December 31, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe it is time for a new party to assemble a national administration, according to a poll by Communicate Research published in The Independent. 48 per cent of respondents think it is time for a change and the next government should be a Conservative one, while 36 per cent say they would prefer a Labour administration.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe it is time for a new party to assemble a national administration, according to a poll by Communicate Research published in The Independent. 48 per cent of respondents think it is time for a change and the next government should be a Conservative one, while 36 per cent say they would prefer a Labour administration.

In June, 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. From 1979 to 1997, the Tories administered the British government under prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

In the survey, 39 per cent of respondents think Cameron is the best person to be prime minister for Britain, while 37 per cent select Brown. When asked to assess specific character traits of the two main party leaders, Cameron holds the upper hand as having the most able front bench team, but trails Brown as the best person to take the British economy through a potentially difficult time in 2008. More than 50 per cent of respondents believe Cameron is the most likeable party leader.

Yesterday, Cameron offered a scathing review of Brown’s administration, saying, "It is not just that we offer the hope of a strong team of competent ministers to replace these weak, exhausted and second-rate Labour politicians. It is not just that we offer the hope of a fresh start on policy after so many years of Labour headline-chasing short-term tricks with no real substance behind them. It is that we offer a clear vision of the Britain we want to see, and a clear idea of how we will govern differently."

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

Looking back over the events of 2007, which one of these statements comes closest to your view?

On balance I would prefer a Labour government to a Conservative one	36%
It is time for a change and the next government should be a Conservative one	48%
Neither	10%
Refused	1%

For each of the statements I am about to read out, please tell me whether you think they apply more to Gordon Brown or David Cameron?

	Brown	Cameron
Is the best person to be prime minister for Britain	37%	39%
Is the best person to take the British economy through a potentially difficult time in 2008	44%	36%
Has the most able front bench team	35%	40%
Is the most likeable of the two main party leaders	31%	51%

Source: Communicate Research / The Independent
Methodology: Interviews with 1,004 British adults, conducted from Dec. 14 to Dec. 16, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.