ED Miliband insists he is focusing on issues rather than disappointing opinion polls and he is right to do so.

But he cannot ignore the fact that Labour has fallen behind the Conservatives in two polls this week.

An ICM poll for the Guardian puts Labour on 31 per cent, compared to the Conservatives on 33 per cent. Significantly, it is the lowest Labour rating in the ICM series of polls in the past four years.

A second poll, published by Tory peer and pollster Lord Ashcroft, also has Labour two points behind.

Mr Miliband has brushed the polls aside, suggesting it is an unpredictable time ahead of the European and council elections. He added that his party would not be distracted from the "bread and butter" issues leading up to the 2015 general election.

Nevertheless, the poll results will offer few crumbs of comfort for Labour MPs who are expressing private concerns about Mr Miliband's disappointing performance.

We all know that a week is a long time in politics but the general election grows ever nearer and the Labour leader is still struggling to connect with the electorate.

Even in the Labour heartlands of the North-East, he has failed to generate any sense of momentum.

With the economy likely to go on improving – supplying David Cameron with valuable ammunition about his management of Britain's finances – Mr Miliband's task is only likely to get tougher.

He says he is confident his party has the answers to public concerns but there is not enough evidence so far that they have been communicated in a way that makes them compelling.

The Labour leader may insist he is not worried – but there are plenty in his party who are becoming distinctly twitchy.