One opinion poll doesn't make the political weather. But after months of Tory gloom there was jubilation this week in the Conservatives' Victoria Street campaign headquarters when an ICM poll in the Guardian gave the party its best rating for nearly a year-just three percentage points behind Labour with 34%. A MORI poll in the Financial Times three days later giving Labour a two-point lead added to the impression of progress. Until now, the Tories haven't had a great deal to show for their quite impressive efforts over the last few weeks. During this phoney war, they have been unexpectedly successful in setting the political agenda. Michael Howard gambled by staying policy-light last year in the hope that when his party did have something to say, it wouldn't seem stale. Each week has seen the launch of new Tory plans, which, surprisingly, given that nobody really expects the policies to be implemented, have been diligently reported and commented on. By contrast, Labour has seemed preoccupied with the problems of governing, while its attempts to appear energetic and brimming with fresh ideas have so far fallen flat.
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