Polls & Research

Labour Sleazier Than Tories, Say Britons

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain hold negative views on their governing party, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 60 per cent of respondents believe the Labour party these days gives the impression of being very sleazy and disreputable, while only 31 per cent feel the same way about the opposition Conservative party.

In March 2006, then British prime minister and Labour leader Tony Blair was affected by a scandal over the appointments for peerage of specific Labour party campaign contributors. Four men who secretly donated money to the governing party—health entrepreneur Chai Patel, businessman David Garrard, stockbroker Barry Townsley, and Indian food magnate Gulam Noon—were later nominated for peerage by the prime minister.

In June, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing 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

On Nov. 27, Brown ordered an investigation into donations for his party worth about $1.2 million U.S. that exceeded legal amounts. The money, donated by property developer David Abrahams, was given to Labour through intermediaries beginning in 2003. John Whitty, a former Labour general secretary, began the inquiry the following day.

On Dec. 2, acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable expressed dismay, saying, "This sleazy affair is getting worse by the day. Who are the people that knew about these donations, and why didn’t they do anything?"

Since December 2005, David Cameron has been the leader of the Conservative party. From 1979 to 1997, the Tories administered the British government under prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

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

Do you agree or disagree with these statements?

Labour these days gives the impression of being very sleazy and disreputable

Agree	60%
Disagree	28%
Don’t know	12%

The Conservatives these days give the impression of being very sleazy and disreputable

Agree	31%
Disagree	49%
Don’t know	21%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,038 British adults, conducted from Nov. 27 to Nov. 29, 2007. No margin of error was provided.