Populus too show a (smaller!) Lib Dem boost

Populus's monthly poll for the Times has topline figures, with changes from last month, of CON 42%(-1), LAB 28%(-5), LDEM 18%(+3). The poll was conducted over the weekend.

Populus's methodology is quite close to ICM's and we've got similar figures to their weekend poll. The Conservatives remain in the 40s, Labour sink down below the psychologically important 30% level and this time some of the support has moved to the Liberal Democrats, who jump up three points. Their support in this poll is significantly lower than the 22 points that ICM recorded, but it's two polls in a row showing their support growing as Labour collapse further.

In other questions, economic confidence had improved slightly, albeit not significantly, after it's big fall last month. Net confidence is at minus 57, compared to minus 61 in January and minus 35 in November when it enjoyed that strange temporary boost in optimism. David Cameron has moved ahead at the best Prime Minister to deal with the crisis now, having pulled level with Brown a month ago he is now ahead by 9 points.

Despite his "bail out boost" disappearing, Gordon Brown's image is still much improved from last summer. The proportion of people who think he is strong (51%) is twenty-two points higher than last summer, those thinking him weak is 20 points down, those thinking he is up to the job is up 17 points to 42%. While Labour may be in a poor state, it is still not as bad as it was in summer 2008.

I've been told there will be some more stuff from Populus to come later in the week covering bank bonuses.