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Gordon Brown

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Adults in Britain have different schedules in mind for Tony Blair's retirement, according to a poll by YouGov released by Sky News. 30 per cent of respondents think the prime minister should step down this year, while 16 per cent say he should do so in 2006.

British voters renewed the House of Commons on May 5. The governing Labour party secured 356 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 197 and the Liberal Democrats with 62. Blair acknowledged the result, saying, "It seems clear that the British people wanted the return of a Labour government but with a reduced majority." In the 2001 election, Labour elected 413 parliamentarians.

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. 19 per cent of respondents want the current prime minister to stand down close to the next election, while 15 per cent want him to change his mind and lead Labour into the next parliamentary ballot.

On Jun. 17, the European Union (EU) summit ended without a satisfactory agreement on the continental group's seven-year budget.

On Jun. 22, Brown called on other European nations to enact economic reforms, saying, "Here in Britain, we have had to make and continue to make hard, long-term choices to achieve stability, growth and flexibility. Now to be globally competitive, the European Union must make these long-term choices too."

Polling Data

Tony Blair has said he will step down as prime minister before the next election. Suppose that he is succeeded by Gordon Brown. Which would be best for Britain?

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