The Conservative Party is beginning to get nervous, and there are worries amongst Tory grassroots’ supporters about an apparent lack of connection between David Cameron and crucial swing voters.  Tory activists have apparently got the jitters and they fear that they might not win the forthcoming election after all.

Three opinion polls yesterday showed the Conservatives’ lead over Labour has narrowed to as little as seven points, which would not be enough to win an overall majority.

One poll suggested that Gordon Brown could even be returned to Downing Street if there was a high turn-out. But the prospect of that or a hung parliament is beginning to terrify many the party activists.

They are increasingly concerned by their leader’s dithering over policy and what some insist is his inability to connect with voters, particularly in the vital northern constituencies.

The infamous airbrushed campaign poster, his backtracking over financial policies and Europe, and his current “networking” trip to the economic forum in Davos, Switzerland, merely serve to reinforce the image a PR man lacking in heartfelt convictions.

Writing yesterday, Tim Montgomerie, the influential editor of the grassroots Conservativehome.com, described the latest polls as “slightly worrying”.

He said:

“If David Cameron is to regain his large lead he needs to make a more positive case for voting Conservative.

“The Tories’ number one job must be to frame this election as a choice between a hung parliament and a strong Conservative government.

“Voters considering supporting Nick Clegg’s party need to know that only a strong Conservative government can deal with the deficit.”

He said Mr Cameron had “gaffed” and “sown confusion” last week when he conceded that cutting public spending too early could jeopardise the economic recovery – exactly what Labour and the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

The apparent dithering has fuelled speculation of disharmony among Mr Cameron’s top team, with some claiming there is now a rift with Shadow Chancellor George Osborne.

However, Mr Montgomerie said the Tory leader needed to stick to the tough spending line.

Recent council by-elections had shown a sharp drop in support for the party, completely against the national picture, they said.

Last Thursday, the Tories lost a council seat in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, when the party suffered a 14% swing to the Liberal Democrats.

The seat falls within the constituency of Shadow Attorney General Edward Garnier, one of the Liberal Democrats’ top targets in the general election.

Liberal Democrat MP and Nick Clegg’s Chief of Staff, Danny Alexander said the election would be “wide open”.

Danny Alexander said: “More and more people are realizing that the Conservatives under David Cameron can’t be trusted.

“A party that would cut taxes for the richest will not make the country fairer.

“David Cameron, as people are realizing, will mean business as usual for Britain.”