(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Britain’s Conservative party has bounced back from a recent dip in popularity, according to a poll by ICM Research published in The Guardian. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition party in the next general election, up six points since mid-December.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Britain’s Conservative party has bounced back from a recent dip in popularity, according to a poll by ICM Research published in The Guardian. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the opposition party in the next general election, up six points since mid-December.
The governing Labour is behind with 32 per cent, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 16 per cent. Eight per cent of respondents would vote for other parties.
In June 2007, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing Tony Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer. Blair served as Britain’s prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons.
Since December 2005, David Cameron has been the leader of the Conservative party. In October 2007, Cameron challenged Brown to call a snap election, but the prime minister later announced he would not hold an early ballot.
In December 2007, current parliamentarian Nick Clegg became the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, defeating environment spokesman Chris Huhne in a leadership ballot by just over 500 votes.
Last month, the Sunday Times newspaper alleged that four Labour members of the House of Lords—Lord Taylor of Blackburn, Lord Truscott, Lord Snape and Lord Moonie—were receiving "cash for amendments" of legislation.
On Jan. 28, Brown addressed the allegations, calling them "serious" and adding, "If current allegations are proven we need, as well, to consider emergency sanctions."
The next election to the House of Commons must be held on or before Jun. 3, 2010. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve Parliament and call an early ballot at their discretion.
Polling Data
If there were to be a general election tomorrow, which party do you think you would vote for?
|
|
Jan. 25 |
Dec. 14 |
Nov. 26 |
|
Conservative |
44% |
38% |
45% |
|
Labour |
32% |
33% |
30% |
|
Liberal Democrat |
16% |
19% |
18% |
|
Other |
8% |
10% |
7% |
Source: ICM Research / The Guardian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,003 British adults, conducted from Jan. 23 and Jan. 25, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
