Increased Tory lead should dampen speculation about 25th March poll

The survey for The Independent on Sunday would give the Conservatives a majority of eight at a General Election (on a uniform swing).

The higher Tory lead should do a little bit to dampen speculation that Gordon Brown may go to the Queen in two weeks' time in order to seek a vote on 25th March. In today's Daily Mail Peter Oborne reported that key Labour insiders were recommending an early vote while Labour morale was on the up and Tory morale on the slide.

It is vital that if the Tory leadership does get some better polls in the next few days that they do not sit back and relax. Earlier today I noted three moves that the Conservatives should take to put the contest beyond Labour's reach.

Tim Montgomerie