January 25, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Many voters in Britain think Tony Blair should resign before the end of the year, according to a poll by YouGov. 39 per cent of respondents say the prime minister should quit soon after the next parliamentary ballot.

(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Many voters in Britain think Tony Blair should resign before the end of the year, according to a poll by YouGov. 39 per cent of respondents say the prime minister should quit soon after the next parliamentary ballot.

Britain must renew the House of Commons by June 2006. There is growing speculation that an election will take place in May 2005. Last October, Blair announced that he intends to lead the Labour party into the next parliamentary ballot, and retire at the end of what would be his third term in office.

Last year, two high-profile Labour politicians—former leader Neil Kinnock and former chancellor of the exchequer Denis Healey—publicly suggested that Blair should allow someone else to command the party.

Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Blair. Only 15 per cent of respondents think the current prime minister should attempt to lead Labour into a fourth election.

Polling Data

Tony Blair has promised that, if Labour wins the coming general election, he will serve a full third term, but not lead Labour into the following election (likely to be held 2009 or 2010). If Labour does win the coming election, which would you like Tony Blair to do?

Step down soon after the coming election	39%
Step down one or two years after the coming election	15%
Step down towards the end of the next parliament	15%
Lead Labour into the following general election	15%

Source: YouGov
Methodology: Online interviews to 1,830 British voters, conducted from Jan. 20 to Jan. 22, 2005. No margin of error was provided.