Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Brown Would Make Better PM, Say Britons

March 02, 2006

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in Britain believe their current chancellor of the exchequer would be a good head of government, according to a poll by ICM Research published in News of the World. 45 per cent of respondents think Labour party member Gordon Brown is most likely to make a good prime minister, while 33 per cent choose Conservative leader David Cameron.

The survey outlines the feelings of Britons on 14 other character traits. 43 per cent of respondents believe Brown looks like a future prime minister, while 40 per cent feel the same way about Cameron.

Brown has been in charge of Britain's finances since 1997—the longest continuous tenure for any public servant in the position. He has been mentioned as a possible replacement for current Labour leader and prime minister Tony Blair, who has vowed to retire at the end of his current mandate in 2010.

Since December 2005, Cameron has been the leader of the Conservative party. The 39-year-old former education spokesman is the fourth person to command the opposition organization in the past eight years.

On Feb. 28, Cameron said the Labour party's goals of social justice and economic efficiency "were right" but had left voters disheartened, and vowed to "improve services for everyone."

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

Putting aside your own party preferences I would like you to think about David Cameron and Gordon Brown. Which of the two do you think...

Cameron

Brown

Most likely to make a good prime minister

33%

45%

Looks like a future prime minister

40%

43%

Is most in touch with the issues that
matter most to people like you

32%

39%

Is most trustworthy

28%

39%

Is most arrogant

28%

46%

Makes the best leader of his party

34%

41%

Most likely to be able to manage
a limited family budget

25%

48%

Most likely to stop what they
are doing to help you

36%

31%

Most likely to have a really good idea

38%

39%

You would prefer to have dinner with

34%

33%

Most likely to have a secret he
would rather you didn't know

34%

37%

Most likely to try and avoid
buying a round of drinks

21%

54%

Most likely to make a joke at
someone else expense

37%

37%

Makes the best dad

33%

35%

Looks the most presentable

61%

22%

Source: ICM Research / News of the World
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,025 British adults, conducted from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25, 2006. No margin of error was provided.

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