Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Britain Sets Agenda for Blair’s Last Term

September 30, 2005

Credit:The White House

Tony Blair

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Britons believe their prime minister should focus on domestic matters, according to a poll by ICM Research published in The Guardian. 71 per cent of respondents believe Tony Blair devotes too much attention to foreign issues like reforming the United Nations (UN) and Iraq.

In May, 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. In the 2001 election, Labour elected 413 parliamentarians. Blair has headed the government since 1997. 39 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the prime minister's performance.

On Sept. 27, Blair defended his economic record, declaring, "This is a country today that increasingly sets the standard. Not for us the malaise of France or the angst of Germany."

Last October, 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. 31 per cent of respondents believe Blair should step down now, while 24 per cent believe he should do so within the next couple of years.

Polling Data

Some people say that Tony Blair devotes too much attention to foreign issues like Iraq and reforming the United Nations (UN) and not enough on domestic matters like improving hospitals and schools. Do you agree or disagree?

Agree

71%

Disagree

25%

Don't know

4%

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the job Tony Blair is doing as prime minister?

Satisfied

39%

Dissatisfied

58%

Don't know

3%

When do you think Tony Blair should stand down as prime minister?

Now

31%

Within the next couple of years

24%

Should he serve until just before the next election

23%

Fight the next election to win a fourth term

17%

Don't know

5%

Source: ICM Research / The Guardian
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,009 British adults, conducted on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24, 2005. No margin of error was provided.

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