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Theresa May’s leadership score has soared higher than either Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair enjoyed in their best years, an exclusive poll reveals today.

The Ipsos MORI survey shows the Conservatives on 49 per cent, with an extraordinary 23 per cent lead over Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour who are on 26.

And it reveals that support for Labour and the Liberal Democrats is “softer” than Tory support, with more of their potential voters saying they may change their minds by June 8.

But the most striking evidence that voters could deliver Mrs May an overwhelming victory is the revelation that she has the best score yet recorded by Ipsos MORI since the 1970s when the veteran pollsters began asking who would make “the most capable Prime Minister” among party leaders of the day.

Some 61 per cent chose Mrs May, with 23 per cent picking Mr Corbyn.

Three-times election winner Baroness Thatcher never came close - her best score was 48 per cent which she first hit in May 1983 on the eve of a landslide triumph against Michael Foot.

Labour’s most successful election winner Tony Blair touched 52 per cent in May 2001, just before he crushed William Hague in the general election.

Mr Corbyn can take some comfort from not having the worst score recorded. Mr Hague slipped as low as 12 per cent before his defeat.

However, the research also found that the personality of the leader is seen as more important by the public at this election compared with in 2015.

Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, this morning became the latest Cabinet minister to urge Tory backers not to be complacent in the face of forecasts of a landslide.

According to the poll, the parties currently stand at Conservative 49 (+6); Labour 26 (-4); Liberal Democrats 13 (no change), Ukip 4 (-2).

It is the biggest Conservative lead recorded since September 2008, and matches the lead they enjoyed in May 1983 when Mrs Thatcher won a 144 majority.

Overall, 63 per cent are “definitely decided” how they will vote, but over a third say they could still switch parties.

Crucially, the Tory vote looks more solid, with 78 per cent of its supporters saying they are firmly decided.

Only 56 per cent of Labour are as firm.

Alarmingly for Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, 60 per cent of his supporters say they may in the end back a different party.

Brexit is the number one issue of the election, cited as very important by 42 per cent. The NHS is second on 31 per cent, but comes first in the minds of Labour supporters.

All the party leaders have had a boost in the monthly satisfaction ratings, but Mrs May is the only leader with a positive score.

Over half of all voters are satisfied with her performance, including a remarkable 95 per cent of Tories.

Only 27 per cent of the public are happy with Mr Corbyn. Among Labour supporters, 53 per cent are satisfied and 36 per cent dissatisfied.

Just 30 per cent of the public are satisfied with Mr Farron, rising to two-thirds of Lib Dems. But three in 10 people say they still don’t know enough about him to form a view.

Britons are less pessimistic about the economy this month. Four in 10 think things will get worse, while 28 per cent think they will improve.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said: “The Conservatives’ focus on leadership seems to be working for them – it was a key strength of theirs in 2015, and now their lead has increased even further. Voters also say leadership is a more important issue.

“The commitment of their supporters is also striking, compared with other parties. This has all helped them to match their biggest lead we’ve ever recorded in an election campaign, back in 1983.”