Gordon Brown's Poll Rating

It's not just bad. It's dropped in a drastic way, as in worse than Neville Chamberlain's drop in 1940 after Hitler’s invasion of Norway.

His most recent problem is a caucus and cabinet revolt over the extension to detention without trial to 42 days.

Jack Straw, the justice secretary, has told Commons allies that he has reservations about the policy, which critics say will inflame tension among Muslims and lead to miscarriages of justice.

Geoff Hoon, the chief whip, has told Brown that he will lose next month’s Commons vote unless concessions are made. "As it stands, Gordon will go down by 30 votes," said a minister. "In the current climate, his leadership might not survive that blow." Downing Street sources insisted last night that no further concessions were planned.