March 20, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe Gordon Brown will help the governing Labour party in the next election, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 63 per cent of respondents consider the current chancellor of the exchequer as an asset.

(Angus Reid Consultants - CPOD Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe Gordon Brown will help the governing Labour party in the next election, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 63 per cent of respondents consider the current chancellor of the exchequer as an asset.

Prime minister Tony Blair has been Britain's head of government since 1997. In October, the prime minister announced that he intends to lead the Labour party into the next election, and retire at the end of what would be his third term in office. 48 per cent of respondents believe Blair is a liability for the governing political organization.

Britain must renew the House of Commons by June 2006. There is growing speculation that an election will take place in May 2005.

On Mar. 16, Brown delivered this year's budget to the House of Commons. Brown defined the document—which includes tax relief for home buyers and retired pensioners—as a balance between "tax cuts that are affordable, investments that are essential and stability that is paramount."

Brown has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Blair. 40 per cent of respondents say they would prefer to see the current chancellor of the exchequer as prime minister, while 30 per cent would retain Blair.

Polling Data

Is Gordon Brown / Tony Blair an asset or a liability to the Labour Party?

	Asset	Liability
Gordon Brown	63%	16%
Tony Blair	34%	48%

Who would you prefer to see as prime minister?

Gordon Brown	40%
Tony Blair	30%
Don't know	30%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews to 2,002 British adults, conducted from Mar. 11 to Mar. 14, 2005. No margin of error was provided.