ED Miliband's woes have been compounded by damning polls published yesterday and today exposing the scale of his unpopularity with voters including Labour supporters
Many of those polled believe Labour would be better off with a new leader [PA]In a further blow to the Labour leader - whose in recent days has suffered internal criticism over a string of "unforced schoolboy errors" - popular former minister Alan Johnson admitted voters had yet to be won over by his leader.
Mr Johnson told the New Statesman magazine he was "100 per cent" behind Ed Miliband but conceded the leader was "maybe not as able to connect (with people) as strongly as David can. It's not his strong point.
"I can't pretend that, knocking on doors, people come out and they're really enthusiastic about Ed."
Mr Johnson added that Ed Miliband could capitalise on his "geek" image but "what he mustn't do is try to pretend he's something he's not".
His comments emerged as an Ipsos MORI poll yesterday reported that nearly half, 49 per cent, of the public, including 43 per cent of Labour voters, think the party needs a new leader.
That contrasted with 44 per cent believing the Lib Dems should dump Nick Clegg and only 27 per cent advising the Tories to oust David Cameron.
One poll found that many believe David Miliband would have a better chance in next year's election [PA]I can't pretend that, knocking on doors, people come out and they're really enthusiastic about Ed
The percentage thinking Mr Miliband was ready to be Prime Minister has fallen in the past year, from 24 to 22 per cent.
However, the number thinking Labour could form a government has risen from 29 to 35 per cent and the party retains its three-point lead over the Conservatives, at 34 to 31 per cent - fuelling the view it would do better without its current leader.
Gideon Skinner, of Ipsos MORI, said: "All the leaders have been facing questions about their leadership but in the eyes of the public it is Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg who have most to worry about."
His organisation found most people wanting to change party leader had no specific alternative in mind.
But a separate poll out today found more voters believe David Miliband - who is no longer an MP - would make a good PM than have that view of brother Ed, who beat him in their 2010 Labour leadership contest.
A YouGov survey for Prospect magazine found Ed Miliband trailed Mr Cameron by 23 to 33 per cent on being named best person to hold the keys to Number 10.
But when voters were asked to imagine David Miliband as leader, they preferred him over the Tory by 35 to 23 per cent.
Sixty per cent thought Ed Miliband was "not up to the job" of PM, compared to 20 per cent who thought he was, while 59 per cent thought him weak.
The findings also suggested the Labour leader was not winning votes with his argument about Old Etonian Mr Cameron being out of touch with ordinary people's lives, with only 25 per cent thinking Mr Miliband "in touch with my concerns" and 52 per cent that he was not, compared to 20 and 62 per cent for the PM.
At least half of voters expected a Labour government under Ed Miliband would fail on a series of key priorities.
YouGov president Peter Kellner stressed Ed Miliband could yet win the election and it was not certain that a David Miliband-led Labour would be on course for clear victory rather than the "close contest" that now seemed likely.
David Miliband would have had to grapple with many of the same problems as his younger brother had he been leader, said Mr Kellner: "The real point is that this finding indicates how disappointed many voters are in Ed's performance.
"Millions remain unconvinced by the coalition's record and would like to back a Labour leader but don't think Ed is a match for Cameron."
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