(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The celebration of an annual Conservative caucus meeting this month has apparently increased the opposition party’s popularity in Britain, according to a poll by ICM Research. 43 per cent of respondents would vote for the Tories in the next election to the House of Commons, up five points in a week.

The governing Labour party is second with 36 per cent, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 14 per cent. Support for Labour fell by three points in a week, while backing for the Lib-Dems increased by one point.

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. On Oct. 3, during the party’s annual conference, Cameron talked about his work in reforming the party and bringing it to the centre of the political spectrum. He also challenged Brown to call an early election. On Oct. 6, the prime minister announced he would not hold an early ballot.

In March 2006, the Liberal Democrats chose foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell as their new leader. On Oct. 15, Campbell tendered his resignation. A leadership ballot of party members will take place in November, and the new Lib-Dem leader will be announced on Dec. 17. The preliminary list of Campbell’s possible successors includes environment spokesman Chris Huhne and current parliamentarian Nick Clegg.

Yesterday, Cameron criticized Labour’s anti-poverty policies, saying his party would "make British poverty history" by changing the "clunking" tax credit system. Cameron added: "Yes, we must help the haves to have more; yes, we must back the aspirations of our over-taxed, over-burdened middle classes, but a modern aspiration agenda means helping the have-nots to have something. If we do not succeed in that mission then I tell you frankly, that we will all be poorer."

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

If there were to be a general election tomorrow, which party do you think you would vote for?

Source: ICM Research
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 British adults, conducted from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11, 2007. No margin of error was provided.

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