The bright young things of david cameron's conservative party face their first big test next week. And as the local elections approach, the Tories are on the up - even if the "honeymoon period" of a five-point lead over Labour seems to be over. And it seems the construction industry has already fallen for the new-look Tories' charms. A survey of Building readers gives the Conservatives a lead of 12.6 percentage points over Labour (see pie chart, overleaf), compared with just 3.5 points before last year's general election. That a traditionally anti-development party can enjoy such popularity among builders is one of the most significant trends of the past year, but whether it is indicative of a genuine change of direction from the Tories or just of dissatisfaction with the government is a moot point. Whatever the truth, contractors and housebuilders are no longer only trying to meet Labour ministers to influence policy. For the first time in a decade, the Tories are emerging as a genuine threat to the government.
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