Confidence in the economy is lower than during the 1979 winter of discontent, a poll has showed.

Despite Gordon Brown's attempts to reassure the public the UK will weather the storm, 75 per cent of voters expect things to get worse over the next year - six points down on last month.

And the latest figures from Ipsos Mori show many more believe the nation's finances would be safer in Tory hands.

In ten months, a 29-point Labour lead on economic competence has been reversed, with David Cameron's Opposition now ahead by 16 points on the issue - 37 per cent compared to 21 per cent.

Among people who said they were certain to vote, the Conservatives have a 20-point lead over Labour - 47 per cent as opposed to 27 per cent. The Liberal Democrats are on 15 per cent.

The figures show the biggest gap between voters who are unhappy and happy with government performance since the worst days of John Major's government in August 1996.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) of those questioned declared themselves dissatisfied with the way the country was being run, with less than one in five (18 per cent) happy.

Labour supporters are significantly unhappy with the PM's performance as well, with 43 per cent expressing dissatisfaction.

Half of voters think he should quit now, with one in five saying that they like Labour but not its present leader.

Mr Cameron has the opposite problem, with more liking him (47 per cent) than his party (43 per cent).

Despite the party's consistent poll leads, he still has work to do to convince the electorate that he is ready for power, with voters split equally (44 per cent each way) on the question.