Polls show Brown losing public spending debate

Sixty percent want to shrink the size of the state to curb the deficit, with just 21 percent preferring higher taxes.

The government has already said it plans a new, high rate of income tax of 50 percent on those earning more than 150,000 pounds a year. Brown is to tell trade union members on Tuesday that tough choices lie ahead.

"We have to make tough choices in public spending and we will need the support of the labour movement in protecting the front line first," he said in an extract of his speech released on Sunday.

But neither Labour nor the Conservatives have given details of where the axe will fall.

Philip Hammond, the Conservative Treasury spokesman, told Sky TV that cuts need to begin in 2010.

"We think we need to make a start in 2010, to rein back public spending to drive some of the inefficiencies out of public service delivery in order to maintain low interest rates well into this recovery and to support businesses and families."

Brown was ahead in the polls for several month after replacing Tony Blair as prime minister in June 2007, winning praise for his early handling of the global economic crisis.

But he fell behind the Conservatives after a series of setbacks, including challenges to his leadership, accusations of a clumsy personal and leadership style, ministerial resignations and a scandal over lawmakers' expenses.

The recession, public finances, rising casualties in Afghanistan and Britain's role in the release of the Lockerbie bomber have dominated the political agenda in recent months.

The Sunday Times/YouGov poll showed that despite signs of economic recovery, Labour appears to have failed to capitalise.