(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Roughly half of people in Britain trust their prime minister and his chancellor of the exchequer to lead the country through economic hardship, according to a poll by Communicate Research released by the BBC. 47 per cent of respondents have more confidence in Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to handle the current crisis.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Roughly half of people in Britain trust their prime minister and his chancellor of the exchequer to lead the country through economic hardship, according to a poll by Communicate Research released by the BBC. 47 per cent of respondents have more confidence in Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling to handle the current crisis.
Conversely, 28 per cent of respondents place more trust in Conservative party leader David Cameron and shadow chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne to guide the country through the crisis. Only four per cent have more confidence in Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and economic spokesperson Vince Cable to handle the situation.
In addition, 65 per cent of respondents say they have cut their spending because of concerns about the future, 43 per cent say they are more likely to spend more if the government cuts taxes, 79 per cent say that any tax cuts introduced now will just translate into higher taxes later, and 51 per cent say Britain is better placed than other leading economies to face the current downturn.
In June 2007, 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, 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 Clegg became the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, defeating environment spokesman Chris Huhne in a leadership ballot by just over 500 votes.
On Nov. 25, Brown introduced a "shock-treatment" stimulus package to jump-start the country’s economy through tax cuts, increased government spending and a greater role in government lending. Darling defended the package—valued at $31 billion U.S.—saying, "These are exceptional times and they require exceptional measures."
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
Putting your party allegiance aside, who do you trust most to steer Britain’s economy through the current downturn?
|
Gordon Brown & Alistair Darling |
47% |
|
David Cameron & George Osborne |
28% |
|
Nick Clegg & Vince Cable |
4% |
|
Neither / None |
21% |
Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements ?
|
Agree |
Disagree |
Not sure |
|
|
I have cut my spending because I’m worried about the future |
65% |
34% |
1% |
|
I am likely to spend more if the government cuts my taxes |
43% |
54% |
2% |
|
Any tax cuts the government gives away now will just mean higher taxes in the future |
79% |
19% |
2% |
|
Britain is well placed to weather the economic downturn compared with other leading economies |
51% |
42% |
6% |
Source: Communicate Research / BBC
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,001 British adults, conducted from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
