Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Brown at 35%, Cameron Gains in Britain

January 16, 2008
Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public satisfaction with Gordon Brown remains low in Britain, according to a poll by YouGov. 35 per cent of respondents believe Brown is doing well as prime minister, up three points since December.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public satisfaction with Gordon Brown remains low in Britain, according to a poll by YouGov. 35 per cent of respondents believe Brown is doing well as prime minister, up three points since December.

In June 2007, 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. 55 per cent of respondents think Cameron is doing well as leader of the opposition, up two points in a month.

On Jan. 14, Cameron called for changes in the pension system that former members of Parliament currently have, saying, "If we really want to look other state sector, public sector employees in the eye, and say we really do need to look at pension arrangements and reform pension arrangements and make sure they’re affordable, we have to look at our own pension arrangements (…) and recognize that a very generous final salary scheme, going on into the future, is not appropriate."

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

Do you think Gordon Brown is doing well or badly as prime minister?

 

Jan. 2008

Dec. 2007

Nov. 2007

Well

35%

32%

33%

Badly

56%

68%

43%

Don’t know

10%

9%

24%

Do you think David Cameron is doing well or badly as Conservative leader?

 

Jan. 2008

Dec. 2007

Nov. 2007

Well

55%

53%

46%

Badly

30%

33%

31%

Don’t know

15%

15%

23%

Source: YouGov
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,139 British adults, conducted on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, 2008. No margin of error was provided.