February 27, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Few adults in Britain are content with Tony Blair, according to a poll by Ipsos-MORI published in The Sun. 28 per cent of respondents are satisfied with their prime minister's performance, down nine points since November.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Few adults in Britain are content with Tony Blair, according to a poll by Ipsos-MORI published in The Sun. 28 per cent of respondents are satisfied with their prime minister's performance, down nine points since November.

In May 2005, British voters renewed the House of Commons. The governing Labour party secured 356 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 197 and the Liberal Democrats with 62. Blair has served as prime minister since 1997.

In October 2004, Blair announced that he would retire at the end of his third term. Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Blair.

Yesterday, Dennis Healey—a former chancellor of the exchequer considered as one of the Labour party's elder statesmen—suggested that Blair should step down soon, saying, "I think Tony's showing he is losing his grip, and the sooner Gordon takes over the better." 31 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the current government, down two points in three months.

The next election 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

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Tony Blair is doing its job?

	Feb. 2006	Nov. 2005
Satisfied	28%	37%
Dissatisfied	60%	55%

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the government is doing his job?

	Feb. 2006	Nov. 2005
Satisfied	31%	33%
Dissatisfied	60%	57%

Source: Ipsos-MORI / The Sun
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,143 certain British voters, conducted from Feb. 16 and Feb. 20, 2006. No margin of error was provided.