Labor has gained five points of favour among voters in the Canning electorate, a poll has revealed.

Advocacy group GetUp commissioned the poll, which put Labor at 31 per cent on first preference support – an increase on 27 per cent in the 2013 Federal election.

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The results came as reports emerged that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told cabinet ministers the ALP was “running dead” in the by-election for the West Australian seat.

According to the poll, first preference support for the Liberal Party dropped 15 per cent from 2013 to 36 per cent, while 15 per cent of voters remained undecided.

After preferences, the Coalition was ahead 51-49 per cent.

Plenty of speculation has surrounded the by-election, including claims Labor was running a perfunctory campaign to avoid the potential of a Liberal leadership change if they won the seat.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott travelled to Canning on Wednesday and told reporters he expected a “Labor blitz” in the final weeks.

The by-election was called for September 19 after the death of former MP Don Randall.