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A poll today suggests the Tories could have a slim lead over Labour even among working-class voters.

Despite years of crushing austerity, the ICM survey put support for Theresa May's party at 33% compared to 32% for Jeremy Corbyn 's.

Among all voters the Conservatives were on 44%, 16 points ahead of Labour's 28%, the online poll of 2,009 adults claimed.

The 'working-class voters' figure described people in two categories used by Westminster wonks - 'D' (semi-skilled and manual unskilled workers) and 'E' (casual or non-workers and state pension).

Without adjusting for factors like turnout, likelihood to vote and 'don't knows', Labour had 24% and the Tories had 21% among 'DE' voters.

ICM director Martin Boon said the figure was interesting, though he warned it had a higher margin for error than the rest of the poll, because only 275 people were in that group.

He told the Mirror: "It's an indicator, not a definitive line, so it should be treated with a little bit of caution."

(Image: Coventry Telegraph)

The poll comes after new Ukip leader Paul Nuttall boldly claimed he would replace Labour as the voice of the patriotic working class.

He made his pledge to target northern Labour heartlands despite his hard-right policies, including pushing for more privatisation in the NHS.

The figure for 'DE' voters put Ukip on 19%, higher than the 12% support from all voters.

Today's poll, a regular study for The Guardian, gave the Conservatives a lead in every social group, every region except Wales, and every age group except 18-24.

Among the highest-earning 'AB' voters the Tories had a 20-point lead, on 47% to Labour's 27%.

But among 18-to-24-year-olds the lead was stark - with Labour enjoying 49% support compared to just 20% for the Tories.

Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to get Labour on an election footing, with Westminster braced for a possible snap poll.

His allies hope huge youth support will galvanise new ways of raising support through smartphone technology, as happened in the summer's Labour leadership election.

See the full ICM/Guardian poll results here.