If findings like these should worry the whole political class, another aspect of YouGov's data should worry Conservatives especially and may even offer Labour supporters a little comfort. According to YouGov, Labour support among the electorate has fallen by five percentage points since the 2005 election and Liberal Democrat support has also fallen by five points — a combined loss of 10 percentage points.

On the face of it, the Tories should have gained most of those 10 points. But they have not done so.

As the figures in the chart indicate, the Conservatives have gained five of them but the various minor parties have gained the other five. The opposition to the Labour Government is thus fragmenting instead of consolidating.

No fewer than 13 per cent of YouGov's respondents say that they would vote for some party other than one of the main three at an early general election. Three per cent would back either the SNP or Plaid Cymru, four per cent Ukip, three per cent the BNP and two per cent the Greens.

These assorted small parties have, between them, had the support of 10 per cent or more of the electorate since the spring of this year.

The unpopularity of the Government is clearly not being translated in any straightforward way into support for the official Opposition. It is the unofficial opposition that is gaining in strength.

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