The findings, which had 38 per cent of those surveyed backing the Tories, 28 per cent Ukip and 25 per cent Labour, came after former Tory MP Mark Reckless became Ukip's second elected MP in the Rochester and Strood by-election.
The YouGov survey also found that nearly three times as many of those asked thought the UK Independence Party leader would be the best Prime Minister compared with Labour's Ed Miliband.
The findings, which had 38 per cent of those surveyed backing the Tories, 28 per cent Ukip and 25 per cent Labour, came after former Tory MP Mark Reckless became Ukip's second elected MP in the Rochester and Strood by-election.
While more general voter surveys had Labour just ahead or tied with the Tories with Ukip in third place and the Lib Dems in fourth, the findings will deepen gloom in Mr Miliband's ranks.His party is bitterly divided after the ill-judged Twitter photograph posted by senior MP Emily Thornberry which was seen as sneering at white van drivers and people who display England flags.
