(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Britain’s main opposition party continues to be favoured by most people, according to a poll by Communicate Research published by The Independent. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for the Conservative party in the next election to the House of Commons, up four points since April.

The governing Labour party is second with 30 per cent—down four points in a month—followed by the Liberal Democrats with 16 per cent.

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.

On Jun. 5, Blair said Brown should not be blamed for Britain’s current economic difficulties, declaring, "It’s difficult for all leaders at the moment around the western world. They have got things that are happening that, to be fair to them, is not really their individual fault. (...) I said when I left that I was going to be 100 per cent supportive of Gordon and the government and that’s what I continue to be."

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

What party would you vote for in the next general election?

Source: Communicate Research / The Independent
Methodology: Interviews with 1,006 British adults, conducted from May 30 to Jun. 1, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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