Complacency is the only danger to Neil Lennon’s side retaining their title while Dundee United look best placed to finish second

Celtic

Last season: 1st. Prediction: 1st.

Complacency represents the biggest danger to Neil Lennon on the domestic front, and even that wouldn’t be enough to alter the inevitable destination of the SPL trophy. Rangers’ absence means nobody is even bothering to put up a genuine case for alternative champions to Celtic, who will be in gentle pursuit of a second title in succession. Lennon is still seeking added quality in central defence and a powerful centre-forward. Yet even without such arrivals, Celtic are vastly superior to the remainder of the division. Of more interest will be whether or not progress can be made to the Champions League group phase.

Motherwell

Last season: 3rd. Prediction: 5th.

Motherwell earned a place in the Champions League qualifying stage on the back of a terrific 2011-12 campaign – and Rangers’ demise – but after a 2-0 win for Panathinaikos at Fir Park it looks like that sojourn into Europe will be a short-lived one. Stuart McCall hasn’t enjoyed the resources to make meaningful additions to his squad but hasn’t witnessed a Motherwell exodus either. Steve Jennings’s departure, however, is a blow to the manager. McCall has a thin squad and may discover that living up to the success of last season proves difficult.

Dundee United

Last season: 4th. Prediction: 2nd.

Peter Houston hasn’t really been afforded the credit he is due for keeping United competitive in the top half of the SPL after the manager succeeded Craig Levein. As with so many clubs, United have suffered from a batch of players departing on free transfers this summer – the influential Dusan Pernis and Scott Robertson amongst them – but the scoring threat of Johnny Russell has remained at Tannadice for now. Michael Gardyne and Mark Millar are smart recruits for Houston, leaving United as a decent value bet to prove “best of the rest”.

Hearts

Last season: 5th. Prediction: 3rd.

A famous Scottish Cup victory over Hibernian understandably masked Hearts’s inauspicious league form last season; fifth place under Paulo Sérgio wasn’t really good enough considering the players at the Portuguese’s disposal. Sérgio has departed, along with the scoring threat of Rudi Skacel and Craig Beattie. Ian Black, who excelled in the Hearts midfield last year, has joined Rangers. Hearts retain a core of strong, senior players and a batch of fine youngsters; the hardly insignificant matter of scoring goals looks like being their problem but they retain enough quality to do reasonably well.

St Johnstone

Last season: 6th. Prediction: 4th

Steve Lomas has a tough task living up to the success of Derek McInnes in Perth but the Northern Irishman has made a decent early fist of things. Lomas has displayed a knowledge of the Scottish market by bringing players such as Gregory Tade, Nigel Hasselbaink, Gary Miller and Tam Scobbie over the close season. Securing Chris Millar on a new contract was also a boost. Of those who exited, Jody Morris and Francisco Sandaza seem likely to leave the biggest voids. Yet Saints are left with enough collective ability to remain firmly in the SPL’s top half.

Kilmarnock

Last season: 7th. Prediction: 7th

Kenny Shiels has sought to play down pre-season expectations in Ayrshire, owing to his small squad and lack of attacking options. The departure of the manager’s son, Dean, from the side which triumphed over Celtic in last season’s League Cup final will be keenly felt. Still, Kilmarnock have decent youngsters who can step forward, Matthew Kennedy and Rory McKenzie amongst them, while Rory Boulding could be a useful capture from Livingston. Cammy Bell remains one of the finest goalkeepers in the SPL and Paul Heffernan, when fit, will claim a reasonable goal tally.

St Mirren

Last season: 8th. Prediction: 9th

St Mirren’s season dwindled away tamely after a bright opening. Key to the Paisley club’s troubles was an inability to win matches at home after defeating Rangers on Christmas Eve. Sam Parkin will offer a powerful option in Danny Lennon’s forward line, Paul McGowan has been courted by English clubs and the former Rangers youngster Grant Adam is expected to offer a challenge to Craig Samson in goal. There is still little evidence, though, that Saints can push into the top six.

Aberdeen

Last season: 9th. Prediction: 6th.

Arguably, Aberdeen have made the smartest summer transfer moves by signing Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn. When not injured, Hayes excelled at Inverness while McGinn has an obvious point to prove after failing to command a regular starting spot at Celtic. Of equal value to the manager, Craig Brown, will be keeping Russell Anderson fit, thereby stabilising the Aberdeen defence. This season could well be Brown’s last hurrah in charge of the north-east club. Taking Aberdeen back into the top six, thereby offering at least some hope to their beleaguered supporters, would be a fitting way to sign off.

Inverness CT

Last season: 10th. Prediction: 12th.

Terry Butcher’s methods of recruitment continue to raise eyebrows in the Highlands. The Inverness manager has opted to sign players from such teams as Newport County, Macclesfield and Gillingham, thereby completely avoiding the Scottish market. Such a policy carries clear dangers, given the importance of knowing the environment you are competing in.

Hibernian

Last season: 11th. Prediction: 8th

The bitter memory of the Scottish Cup final mauling by Hearts will linger with the Hibs support for some time. So, too, will a series of under-par league finishes, which have led to dwindling attendances at Easter Road. Pat Fenlon is charged with improving matters and has at least made transfer moves aimed at pulling Hibs away from any relegation battle. It would be a surprise if Hibs encountered the trouble of last season but Fenlon’s forwards must make up for the departure of Garry O’Connor, who scored 16 times in the 2011-12 campaign.

Ross County

Last season: 1st in First Division. Prediction: 10th

The Dingwall side will toast a maiden campaign in Scotland’s top flight just 18 years after turning out in the Highland League. County cantered to the Division One title last term. In Colin McMenamin, County have a striker who is capable of scoring goals in the SPL, and the depth of Derek Adams’s pool is also noticeable. Their core strength may be the unity of a team littered with players who have motivation to perform well in the Premier League after being released by bigger clubs in their careers. County look no worse than the majority of teams in the bottom half of the SPL, and should be safe.

Dundee

Last season: 2nd in First Division. Prediction: 11th

Dundee have been victims of the Scottish game’s dismal handling of all matters Rangers. Until chronically late in the day, the Dens Park club didn’t even know which division they would be competing in this season. Dundee finished 24 points adrift of Ross County in Division One and still need fresh blood but have enough streetwise players to survive in the top flight. The return of a traditionally decent-sized Dundee support will also be of benefit to the top division.

Think you’ve got what it takes to leap into thin air and slip into the water like an eel from a height of 10m? Hey, come back

Introduction

If you can swim, like heights and are utterly fearless, diving might just be the sport for you. There are more than 100 diving-friendly pools across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where you can practise without having to aim between paddling infants. You either jump from a springboard up to a height of 3m or a firm board at 5m, 7.5m or 10m. If that isn’t enough, you’re creeping towards the terrain of high-diving, and should go and see a therapist.

The basics

There are six basic types of dive (forward, backward, reverse, inward, twisting and armstand), and four positions the body can adopt while in the air: tuck (rolling into a ball), pike (bending at the hips but not the knees), straight (body extended at all points) and free (a combination of the above, including twists). The bellyflop is so far unrecognised. Divers usually enter the water head-first, as close to vertical as possible, and with palms held overlapping towards the water to create a “rip entry” and thus minimise splash. Synchronised diving is popular at competition level.

Health benefits

Diving is great exercise for the upper body, notably the arms, and leads to improved flexibility, posture and focus.

Equipment, costs and practicalities

How much for a pair of Speedos and a spray-tan these days? Other than that, it’s the standard pool fees – though it isn’t recommended that you attempt the higher dives without coaching. Contact your local ASA regional office to get information about diving clubs, events and competitions near you.

Trendiness rating: 8/10

The signs on the wall during school swimming lessons said “No diving”, didn’t they? These guys are mavericks.

Inside line

Faye Callaghan, swimming.org: “Diving is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It involves leaping and springing into water while trying to perfect a series of body positions. It’s also very strictly controlled. If you’ve ever watched a diving competition, you’ll have seen the strength, flexibility and courage of the divers.

It’s a fantastic sport for anyone who wants to put their aquatic skills to the test. Having a head for heights and good flexibility is essential, but even the most timid of participants can learn all the basics and more. Diving is a sport that is growing in popularity all the time, and with Tom Daley and co making the headlines this summer there has never been a more exciting time to get involved.”

Find out more

Great British Diving Federation – UK diving clubs listed.

Swimming.org – diving section of the British Swimming website.

You may also like

Synchronised swimming, trampolining.

You might hate

Football, mountain biking.

Over to you

Are you a diver? Help us build up this resource by sharing tips, videos, links to clubs and anything else that beginners might find useful.

Think you’ve got what it takes to leap into thin air and slip into the water like an eel from a height of 10m? Hey, come back

Introduction

If you can swim, like heights and are utterly fearless, diving might just be the sport for you. There are more than 100 diving-friendly pools across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where you can practise without having to aim between paddling infants. You either jump from a springboard up to a height of 3m or a firm board at 5m, 7.5m or 10m. If that isn’t enough, you’re creeping towards the terrain of high-diving, and should go and see a therapist.

The basics

There are six basic types of dive (forward, backward, reverse, inward, twisting and armstand), and four positions the body can adopt while in the air: tuck (rolling into a ball), pike (bending at the hips but not the knees), straight (body extended at all points) and free (a combination of the above, including twists). The bellyflop is so far unrecognised. Divers usually enter the water head-first, as close to vertical as possible, and with palms held overlapping towards the water to create a “rip entry” and thus minimise splash. Synchronised diving is popular at competition level.

Health benefits

Diving is great exercise for the upper body, notably the arms, and leads to improved flexibility, posture and focus.

Equipment, costs and practicalities

How much for a pair of Speedos and a spray-tan these days? Other than that, it’s the standard pool fees – though it isn’t recommended that you attempt the higher dives without coaching. Contact your local ASA regional office to get information about diving clubs, events and competitions near you.

Trendiness rating: 8/10

The signs on the wall during school swimming lessons said “No diving”, didn’t they? These guys are mavericks.

Inside line

Faye Callaghan, swimming.org: “Diving is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It involves leaping and springing into water while trying to perfect a series of body positions. It’s also very strictly controlled. If you’ve ever watched a diving competition, you’ll have seen the strength, flexibility and courage of the divers.

It’s a fantastic sport for anyone who wants to put their aquatic skills to the test. Having a head for heights and good flexibility is essential, but even the most timid of participants can learn all the basics and more. Diving is a sport that is growing in popularity all the time, and with Tom Daley and co making the headlines this summer there has never been a more exciting time to get involved.”

Find out more

Great British Diving Federation – UK diving clubs listed.

Swimming.org – diving section of the British Swimming website.

You may also like

Synchronised swimming, trampolining.

You might hate

Football, mountain biking.

Over to you

Are you a diver? Help us build up this resource by sharing tips, videos, links to clubs and anything else that beginners might find useful.

• Email rob.smyth@guardian.co.uk
• Follow the action with our live scoreboard
• Hit F5 for the latest updates or turn on autorefresh

6th over: South Africa 22-0 (Petersen 20, Smith 2) These are not great signs for England I’m afraid. We’re all doomed. Petersen drives Broad handsomely for four, works another boundary off the pads – and again keeps the strike with a single off the final ball. It’s England v Petersen at the moment, and they’re not even winning that battle.

“Why shouldn’t we be critical of the two Andys?” says Tom Collins. “I’ve always thought England’s recent success has been in spite of, not because of, their negative field placings. Can’t understand how Jimmy and co put up with having just two slips for their opening spells.” I didn’t say we couldn’t be critical. It’s just that I’m personally loath to be too critical of two men whose obvious brilliance has produced unprecedented success for English cricket. I’d also strongly dispute the suggestion that England’s success has been in spite of those fields. There are times when I’d like them to be more attacking – this morning is one of them – but to suggest that should have four slips most of the time ignores the enormous changes in the nature of batsmanship in the last 15 years. Those 1980s fields are about as relevant today as fingerless gloves and Wet Wet Wet.

5th over: South Africa 13-0 (Petersen 11, Smith 2) A big outswinger from Anderson, on a straighter line, turns Petersen round again. That’s the line. There’s an inside edge onto the pads later in the over, and England clearly fancy Petersen as a latter-day Liebenberg. But getting him out is not really the issue. They need to get Smith on strike while the ball is new; he has faced only four of the 30 deliveries so far and won’t be on strike at the start of the next over.

“Finally some decent sport to watch (well listen to, well read about, but you know what I mean),” says Chris Drew. “It seems to have been ages since the last Test finished, and we’ve had nothing to fill our days. Or have I missed something???” Er, hello? Phil Taylor beating James Wade 18-15 in a brilliant World Matchplay final? I actually watched the darts last Friday rather than the opening ceremony. This makes me a despicable human being, I know.

4th over: South Africa 10-0 (Petersen 8, Smith 2) Michael Holding, it’s fair to say, is not entirely enamoured with England’s field for Graeme Smith, with five on the leg side. It’s been a fairly quiet start, perhaps quieter than you’d like when you win the toss and bowl. South Africa will be happy enough with this start. You could argue that England’s policy of bowling dry isn’t conducive to winning the toss and bowling first. Then again they did that and bowled Australia out in double figures at Melbourne two years ago. Nobody knows anything.

“Black Thought might have one of the worst emcee pseudonyms of all time,” says Daniel Harris, “but he had this one right.”

3rd over: South Africa 8-0 (Petersen 7, Smith 1) Petersen looks a little jittery, as you would be if you contributed the square root of eff all to a total of 94 million in the previous Test. I’d like to see a slightly more aggressive field here, with the drive invited, but it’s hard to be too critical of the Andys. Petersen, groping awkwardly, is beaten by the last delivery of a decent Anderson over.

“Can I put myself up immediately for pillory and abuse by saying that leaving Swann out is the right decision,” writes Rupert Hawksley. “Maybe publish this now and then ignore it for ever more if we lose but herald me as the new CMJ if we win.”

2nd over: South Africa 6-0 (Petersen 5, Smith 1) Stuart Broad will share the new ball, with only two slips and a gully for Graeme Smith and a 4/5 field. That means a very straight line to Smith, who works his first ball off the pads for a single. Smith became a father between Tests; many congratulations to him. His new daughter is called Cadence Smith. Maybe Mr and Mrs Smith like the third American Pie film, or cycling. Anyway, Petersen chases a very full, very wide delivery from Broad that whistles past the outside edge, and then he gets a late inside edge for a single. It’s swinging a little, if not lavishly. This first hour is so important, psychologically as much as anything.

“Do they really think James Taylor is going to help them win the game more than Swann?” says Andrew Hurley. “That is what it comes down to. I would probably only expect a further 15 runs from him than Swann could provide, and is that worth sacrificing a potential match winner? Of course not. All because they are too rigid with their decision to stick with 4 bowlers. Prior is more than good enough to bat at 6, and their tail would still be better than South Africa’s. Madness, and a lack of bravery, to really go for it. Delighted Finn plays though.” If they were ever going to drop a batsman, it certainly wouldn’t be at Headingley – their last Test here, in 2009, was the one that put them off leaving a batsman out.

1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Petersen 4, Smith 0) Jimmy Anderson will of course take the first over. I’d be tempted to give the second over to Steven Finn – partly because he’s a potential monster and partly to give Stuart Broad a slight boot up the derriere after his listless performance at The Oval. Anderson gets some swing straight away, and Petersen is turned right round by the third ball, which flies off the edge and through the vacant fourth-slip area for four. It was all along the ground, although Mikey Holding on Sky feels strongly that England need another man in the cordon.

“I’ll try and stay cool,” says Steven Pye, “although I recently asked my eight-year-old daughter if she thought I was cool, and she gave me a look of utter contempt and walked off. So I may struggle I’m afraid. I’m also a little concerned about leaving Swann out, but I’m guessing only time will tell if it is a wise decision or not. I’m really trying my best here to stay cool….”

“Every day is a gift – that’s why the call it the present.” That’s what the man said. So today, 2 August 2012, I’d like the gift of swing please. That’s all. No lottery wins or Hollywood seductions in stuck elevators. Just a swinging ball please. England must take early wickets here.

England also took a lot of stick for omitting the spinner against South Africa at The Oval in 1994. And looky what happened then. Is it the right decision this time? I have no idea. But I’m sure we’ll all have very strong opinions on the matter in five days’ time. It certainly has a whiff of desperation but then, as anyone who was still in JJs nightclub in the 1990s as the slow songs came on at 1.45am (“My mind’s tellin’ me no…”) will tell you, desperation isn’t always a bad thing.

The last time England went into a Test without a proper spinner was at Headingley in 2003. They picked five seamers then – and were stuffed by South Africa. English spinners tend not to do well on this ground (the third last English spinner to take a Test wicket here was Mike Atherton), but it’s still a huge call.

England left the spinner out at Headingley a lot in the 1980s and 1990s – usually with disastrous consequences. Australia made 600 in 1989 and 1993; Pakistan made 500 in 1996. Then again, England left out the spinner in 2000 and bowled West Indies out for 61. And when they did pick a spinner in 1997 and 2008, Australia and South Africa got 500. They also picked a spinner in 2002 when India got 600. Nobody knows anything, not at Headingley. Although bowling well is always a good place to start.

England have won the toss and will bowl first. They’ve omitted Graeme Swann and will play four seamers, with Steven Finn coming into the team. That’s a fascinating and risky decision. James Taylor makes his Test debut. South Africa, unbelievably after that performance at The Oval, are unchanged. The sun is out at Headingley, and Graeme Smith says he would probably have batted.

England Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Taylor, Prior (wk), Bresnan, Broad, Anderson, Finn.

South Africa Smith (c), Petersen, Amla, Kallis, de Villiers (wk), Rudolph, Duminy, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Tahir.

Preamble In 1819, when the self-educated mill-worker William Collins began to dream of knowledge for all and chose to devote his life to creating a dictionary, he probably did not envisage a day when it would include words and phrases such as chavtastic, brand Nazi, soz, busty, beer o’clock, Smythchic and LOL. Yet they are all there. As is bouncebackability, a strange and ugly word which sounds like it was invented by Timmy Mallett. It is the word on the tip of many fingers (nobody communicates verbally any more, grandad) ahead of the second Test between England and South Africa at Headingley. Stuart Broad even put it on a hashtag.

There has been so much talk about the bouncebackability of this England
side, who will lose their No1 ranking to South Africa if they are beaten
here, that we have forgotten something equally important: South Africa’s,
er, pushonability. They have form for taking a series lead in
impressive-to-awesome circumstances only to struggle a little thereafter. As brilliant a side as they unquestionably are, there is a reason why they have won only three of their last nine series – and one of the main ones is that they have the lost the second Test in six of those series. There are still questions over their self-belief under pressure, especially with the bat, as
well as their subconscious ambition. They will be nervous too, especially
with the promised land in sight. This game is almost too important to
function.

In hindsight, it was always going to be like this. South Africa have taken
the lead in all five series in England since they returned to international
cricket in the 1990s, each time with a numbingly emphatic victory. Yet they
have won only one of those series, in 2008; even then they almost let a poor England side back in to the series. It took an innings of monumental mental strength from Graeme Smith to finish the job.

England are no longer a poor side. Such an assertion of the bleedin’ obvious should not be necessary, yet it feels like there has been a slightly excessive downer on the team since The Oval. Some people have even been saying they weren’t good in the first place. Of course they have problems – Andrew Strauss’s long-term form, Stuart Broad’s short-term form, Graeme Swann’s elbow, Kevin Pietersen’s mental state, the No6 position – but none are insurmountable. If the ball does a bit, and if both sides get an even share of conditions, I think England will win this game. (This is not your cue to
send gloating emails if South Africa stuff them again; we are all grown-ups,
even if this may not always be apparent.)

They may well lose, and if they do history will record their Test Championship reign as distressingly hapless. With England struggling to cope with being No1 and South Africa having struggled to cope with taking a series lead, you could argue that this is a match between two sides who are subconsciously uneasy with success. Chuck in the venue for this Test – Headingley, a hospice for logic – and it’s clear we have a deliciously unpredictable contest ahead. (Writes the eejit who just predicted an England win.) What we probably can predict is a positive result. There have been only two draws in the last 25 Tests here and none since 1996

For now everyone just needs to relax a bit, have faith in this England team
and enjoy what should be a storming Test match. I need you cool. Are you
cool?

• Lord Moynihan says cyclist has entered ‘hallowed territory’
• Andy Hunt praises 32-year-old for winning his seventh medal

The British Olympic Association has refused to be drawn on whether Bradley Wiggins is now Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, but said the seven-times medallist had now entered “hallowed territory”. Lord Moynihan, the BOA chairman, said he was “right up there at the top” of the list of the greatest British Olympians of all time.

“There are other people who will join him there, not least Sir Steve Redgrave,” he said. “Nothing can take away from him that he is now unquestionably one of the greatest athletes we’ve seen in any discipline in the history of Team GB.”

Team GB’s chef de mission, Andy Hunt, said the achievement of Wiggins, who won his fourth gold medal and his seventh in total at the cycling time trial at Hampton Court on Wednesday, had elevated him “to the top table of sporting achievements”. He said that Britain’s run of medals on Wednesday – including another gold for Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the rowing, a silver for Michael Jamieson in the pool and two bronzes in the rowing and the cycling – had delivered “an extra boost of adrenaline” for the team.

Team GB officials said that a roar went up from the athlete’s village at around midday on Wednesday when Glover and Stanning crossed the line for Britain’s first gold. “There is a support for each other in a way we haven’t seen before,” Hunt said. “The public have been incredible, it was totally electric. If we can continue to that it will be amazing.”

Moynihan again called for any empty seats to be filled with British fans, paying tribute to those in the packed stands at Eton Dorney for the rowing. “There is quite a lot of debate about how much that benefits the home nation,” he said. “But our rowers have really benefited from that atmosphere down there.”

The BOA chairman also paid tribute to Robin Williams, the British Rowing coach who has moulded Stanning and Glover into a gold medal winning pair in just 18 months. “Robin Williams is a quiet, total professional, dedicated to his job,” he said. “A lot of attention and focus should go on what he’s done. Their success was his success.”

Moynihan added that the BOA plans to honour the team’s coaches after the Games.

• Lord Moynihan says cyclist has entered ‘hallowed territory’
• Andy Hunt praises 32-year-old for winning his seventh medal

The British Olympic Association has refused to be drawn on whether Bradley Wiggins is now Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, but said the seven-times medallist had now entered “hallowed territory”. Lord Moynihan, the BOA chairman, said he was “right up there at the top” of the list of the greatest British Olympians of all time.

“There are other people who will join him there, not least Sir Steve Redgrave,” he said. “Nothing can take away from him that he is now unquestionably one of the greatest athletes we’ve seen in any discipline in the history of Team GB.”

Team GB’s chef de mission, Andy Hunt, said the achievement of Wiggins, who won his fourth gold medal and his seventh in total at the cycling time trial at Hampton Court on Wednesday, had elevated him “to the top table of sporting achievements”. He said that Britain’s run of medals on Wednesday – including another gold for Heather Stanning and Helen Glover in the rowing, a silver for Michael Jamieson in the pool and two bronzes in the rowing and the cycling – had delivered “an extra boost of adrenaline” for the team.

Team GB officials said that a roar went up from the athlete’s village at around midday on Wednesday when Glover and Stanning crossed the line for Britain’s first gold. “There is a support for each other in a way we haven’t seen before,” Hunt said. “The public have been incredible, it was totally electric. If we can continue to that it will be amazing.”

Moynihan again called for any empty seats to be filled with British fans, paying tribute to those in the packed stands at Eton Dorney for the rowing. “There is quite a lot of debate about how much that benefits the home nation,” he said. “But our rowers have really benefited from that atmosphere down there.”

The BOA chairman also paid tribute to Robin Williams, the British Rowing coach who has moulded Stanning and Glover into a gold medal winning pair in just 18 months. “Robin Williams is a quiet, total professional, dedicated to his job,” he said. “A lot of attention and focus should go on what he’s done. Their success was his success.”

Moynihan added that the BOA plans to honour the team’s coaches after the Games.

Poll suggests the mayor of London would increase support for his party if he were Tory leader

He may have been caught looking distinctly uncomfortable hanging from a zip-wire after getting stuck on Wednesday, but Boris Johnson’s star is firmly in the ascendancy, with a new poll suggesting Labour’s current lead over the Conservatives would be slashed if he were party leader.

A YouGov survey for the Sun reveals that 34% of people would vote for a Cameron-led Tory party, while 40% would vote for Labour under Ed Miliband’s leadership. If the current mayor of London were party leader, on the other hand, support for the Tories would rise to 37%, while Labour’s would fall to 38%. The poll shows the Labour party (43%) enjoying a lead of 11 percentage points over the Conservatives (32%), with the Liberal Democrats on 10%.

The YouGov poll findings were published just days after a separate poll by ConservativeHome showed Johnson is the early favourite among grassroots Tories to succeed Cameron as leader.

The poll of 1,419 Conservative activists showed 32% back Johnson, who is eight points ahead of his nearest rival, former leader William Hague (24%), with the education secretary, Michael Gove, on 19%. David Davis was on 10%, with George Osborne, the chancellor, languishing in eighth place on just 2%.

The polling comes as Johnson enjoys a high media profile during the Olympic Games as principal cheerleader for London 2012. A brief speech by the mayor to rally a mass crowd in Hyde Park, who had come to see the last leg of the torch relay on the eve of the Olympic opening ceremony last Thursday, was interrupted by chants of “Boris, Boris”.

Further photo opportunities presented themselves when he triggered his own version of the Mexican wave while attending a beach volleyball event in Horse Guards Parade. Even dangling awkwardly over Victoria Park in east London after getting temporarily stuck midway on his zip-wire ride did nothing to damage the brand, prompting Cameron to quip that only Johnson could get away with what would have proved a PR disaster for almost anyone else.

Cameron said: “If any other politician anywhere in the world was stuck on a zip-wire it would be a disaster. For Boris, it’s an absolute triumph.”

But not all the headlines have been good for Johnson. He was accused of “appalling judgment” after it emerged he had invited Rupert Murdoch as his personal guest to watch Rebecca Adlington defend her 800 m swimming gold at the 2012 Olympics on Friday.

Political opponents said it was inappropriate for Johnson, who as mayor has oversight of Scotland Yard, to invite the News International proprietor while a Metropolitan police investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal involving the company is still under way.

The row was stoked on Thursday when Murdoch was moved to tweet: “London in best shape ever. All overboard about the Olympics, brilliantly organised by Zeb [sic] Coe and Boris Johnson.”

Former Labour minister Lord Prescott wasted little time tweeting back: “@rupertmurdoch Why are you accepting Olympic hospitality from a mayor in charge of the police who are investigating your newspapers?”

Poll suggests the mayor of London would increase support for his party if he were Tory leader

He may have been caught looking distinctly uncomfortable hanging from a zip-wire after getting stuck on Wednesday, but Boris Johnson’s star is firmly in the ascendancy, with a new poll suggesting Labour’s current lead over the Conservatives would be slashed if he were party leader.

A YouGov survey for the Sun reveals that 34% of people would vote for a Cameron-led Tory party, while 40% would vote for Labour under Ed Miliband’s leadership. If the current mayor of London were party leader, on the other hand, support for the Tories would rise to 37%, while Labour’s would fall to 38%. The poll shows the Labour party (43%) enjoying a lead of 11 percentage points over the Conservatives (32%), with the Liberal Democrats on 10%.

The YouGov poll findings were published just days after a separate poll by ConservativeHome showed Johnson is the early favourite among grassroots Tories to succeed Cameron as leader.

The poll of 1,419 Conservative activists showed 32% back Johnson, who is eight points ahead of his nearest rival, former leader William Hague (24%), with the education secretary, Michael Gove, on 19%. David Davis was on 10%, with George Osborne, the chancellor, languishing in eighth place on just 2%.

The polling comes as Johnson enjoys a high media profile during the Olympic Games as principal cheerleader for London 2012. A brief speech by the mayor to rally a mass crowd in Hyde Park, who had come to see the last leg of the torch relay on the eve of the Olympic opening ceremony last Thursday, was interrupted by chants of “Boris, Boris”.

Further photo opportunities presented themselves when he triggered his own version of the Mexican wave while attending a beach volleyball event in Horse Guards Parade. Even dangling awkwardly over Victoria Park in east London after getting temporarily stuck midway on his zip-wire ride did nothing to damage the brand, prompting Cameron to quip that only Johnson could get away with what would have proved a PR disaster for almost anyone else.

Cameron said: “If any other politician anywhere in the world was stuck on a zip-wire it would be a disaster. For Boris, it’s an absolute triumph.”

But not all the headlines have been good for Johnson. He was accused of “appalling judgment” after it emerged he had invited Rupert Murdoch as his personal guest to watch Rebecca Adlington defend her 800 m swimming gold at the 2012 Olympics on Friday.

Political opponents said it was inappropriate for Johnson, who as mayor has oversight of Scotland Yard, to invite the News International proprietor while a Metropolitan police investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal involving the company is still under way.

The row was stoked on Thursday when Murdoch was moved to tweet: “London in best shape ever. All overboard about the Olympics, brilliantly organised by Zeb [sic] Coe and Boris Johnson.”

Former Labour minister Lord Prescott wasted little time tweeting back: “@rupertmurdoch Why are you accepting Olympic hospitality from a mayor in charge of the police who are investigating your newspapers?”

• Great Britain were losing to Australia but recovered to win
• Two countries face each other again in Saturday’s final

Team GB laid down a marker ahead of Saturday’s men’s four final with an impressive victory over arch gold medal rivals Australia in Thursday’s semi-final.

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory hit back from a length down to row through the Australians with a massive push in the last 500 metres and complete a confidence-boosting victory.

Britain are looking to extend their golden dynasty in the men’s four to 16 years following Olympic triumphs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

Australia claimed after winning the Munich World Cup regatta in June that their tactic of leading from the front had “scared the hell” out of Britain but Thursday’s performance from the British crew will have gone a long way to debunk that claim and it has set up another sensational showdown for gold on Saturday.

• Great Britain were losing to Australia but recovered to win
• Two countries face each other again in Saturday’s final

Team GB laid down a marker ahead of Saturday’s men’s four final with an impressive victory over arch gold medal rivals Australia in Thursday’s semi-final.

Andrew Triggs Hodge, Pete Reed, Tom James and Alex Gregory hit back from a length down to row through the Australians with a massive push in the last 500 metres and complete a confidence-boosting victory.

Britain are looking to extend their golden dynasty in the men’s four to 16 years following Olympic triumphs in Sydney, Athens and Beijing.

Australia claimed after winning the Munich World Cup regatta in June that their tactic of leading from the front had “scared the hell” out of Britain but Thursday’s performance from the British crew will have gone a long way to debunk that claim and it has set up another sensational showdown for gold on Saturday.