Tory lead faltering in two new polls

Polls by ICM and YouGov both show the Conservatives falling slightly and a boost for the Lib Dems under their new leader. YouGov in the Telegraph has topline figures of CON 41%(-2), LAB 33%(nc), LDEM 16%(+2), ICM for the Guardian have figures of CON 37%(-3), LAB 35%(+2), LDEM 20%(+2). The 2 point Tory lead from ICM is the lowest in any poll since back in November.

The ICM poll was conducted last weekend, so before both the lastest on Northern Rock, and Peter Hain's resignation. YouGov's poll was carried out at the start of the week, so would have taken in Northern Rock, but not Hain.

While YouGov's figures are obviously a lot nicer for the Tories and a lot less nice for the Lib Dems than ICM's, but we should be used to the differences produced by the pollsters different methods. The important thing is that the trend is the same.