UPDATED: Populus poll - Labour recovering?

The monthly Populus for the Times suggests that Labour may be starting to recover from their recent difficulties. The topline figures, with changes from Populus's poll last month conducted immediately after the local elections, are CON 37%(-1), LAB 34%(+4), LDEM 18%(-2).

The poll contrasts with the MORI poll published yesterday, though this is more likely to be a result of MORI's methodology - which tends to produce more volative figures than Populus - than any sudden changes in opinion. Compared to the last Populus poll it suggests that Labour may have begun to recover from their immediate crisis. The Conservatives do, however, retain a lead and, as ever, this is but a single poll.

In line with every other pollster the poll also shows the Liberal Democrats falling - suggesting that there has been a genuine decline in the Liberal Democrat level of support since the local elections. For the past month the Conservatives have been enjoying positive media coverage and the Lib Dem fall may simply be a result of the Conservatives being portrayed once again as the most effective opposition to the government. Alternatively, it may be a result of the question marks being raised over Sir Menzies Campbell's leadership.

Populus also asked about John Prescott's future in the government. Overall 61% of people wanted Prescott to go, compared to 30% who want him to stay. Amongst Labour party supporters opinion is relatively evently split - 49% want Prescott to go, 46% want him to stay. The poll was taken after Prescott's announcement that he would give up his grace-and-favour home of Dorneywood, suggesting that the sacrifice was not enough to get him off the hook in the eyes of the general public.

UPDATE: The details of the poll are now available on Populus's website. The largest proportion of the 11% "other" vote is actually the Green party, who have also been doing well in other pollster's voting intention figures - ICM and YouGov both had them on 3% in their most recent polls.

The John Prescott question was also more complicated than the yes/no question the Times' coverage implied. 8% thought that Prescott should keep his job, his full salary and be allowed to retain Dorneywood, 22% thought he was right to give up Dorneywood, but should keep his job and his salary. 37% of people thought that Prescott should resign from his job as Deputy Prime Minister...however, only 24% of people thought that Prescott should also be required to give up hs position as Deputy Leader of the Labour party.