Labour Leadership Poll for The Independent

He is more than twice as popular than his nearest rival,  his younger brother Ed, when voters are asked to name their preferred candidate; who would make the best leader of the opposition;  the best prime minister and have the best chance of leading Labour back to power.

The poll, conducted amongst more than 1,500 people who have voted Labour at least once since 1992, found that David  Miliband was also the most likely of the five Labour leadership candidates to win over wavering voters and people who backed Labour in 2005  but switched to the Liberal Democrats or Conservative Party this year.

David Miliband is the preferred choice of 26 per cent of Labour voters, compared to 11 per cent for his brother; 8 per cent for Diane Abbott; 7 per  cent for  Ed Balls and 5 per  cent for Andy Burnham. Some 44 per cent replied “don’t know.”

The former Foreign Secretary enjoyed  a  bigger lead when people were asked who would make the most effective leader of the opposition. Thirty per cent said David Miliband;   12 per cent Ed Miliband; 7 per cent Mr Balls; 5 per  cent Ms Abbott  and 4 per cent Mr  Burnham.

According to ComRes, David Miliband is  by far the most popular candidate among people who voted Labour this year.  He is the preferred choice of  31 per cent of them, while 12 per cent opt for his brother; 8 per cent for Ms Abbott and Mr Balls and 5 per cent Andy Burnham. Significantly, 40 per cent  of people who voted Labour this year believe David Miliband is most likely to get Labour elected to Government, well ahead of his brother on 11 per  cent.

ComRes interviewed 1,569 Labour voters online between September 3-10, 2010. Respondents were GB adults who have voted for the Labour Party at least once at a general election in the last 20 years.