Bad news for Bill Shorten as Scott Morrison extends his lead as preferred prime minister

Support for Labor leader Bill Shorten has plunged in the latest Newspoll, with Scott Morrison extending his lead as the preferred prime minister. 

Voters have continued to warm to Mr Morrison a month after he seized the nation’s top job following the Liberal Party’s brutal leadership spill.

Mr Morrison’s latest approval rating is the best result for a prime minister since February 2016. 

He increased his lead as the preferred prime minister to 13 points over Mr Shorten – 45 to 32 per cent.

Mr Shorten’s approval fell five points while Mr Morrison’s rose three points compared to the previous Newspoll. 

The prime minister also came out in front on the question of which leader voters considered more authentic. 

In a bad sign for Mr Shorten, 21 per cent of Labor voters also chose Mr Morrison.

Labor leader Bill Shorten (pictured) has seen his support among voters slide in the latest Newspoll, with even 21 per cent of Labor voters favouring Mr Morrison 

But while Mr Morrison is more favoured by voters, his party is not. 

The Coalition lost its 41st Newspoll in a row – but there are signs of a revival in its fortunes.

Their primary vote rose two points to 36 per cent just weeks after the leadership spill.

Labor’s primary vote dropped three points to 39 per cent but on a two-party preferred basis, it continues to lead the coalition 54 to 46. 

The poll of 1675 voters was conducted nationally for The Australian.