(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The governing Labour party is holding on to first place in Britain, according to a poll by ICM Research published in the Daily Telegraph. 37 per cent of respondents would support Labour in the next general election.

The opposition Conservative party is second with 33 per cent, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 21 per cent. Eight per cent of respondents would vote for other parties. Support for the Tories fell by one point, while backing for Labour and the Lib-Dems remained stable.

In May 2005, British voters renewed the House of Commons. The governing Labour party secured 356 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 197 and the Liberal Democrats with 62. Labour leader Tony Blair has served as prime minister since 1997. In October 2004, Blair vowed to retire at the end of his third term in office. Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown has been mentioned as his possible replacement.

Since December 2005, David Cameron has been the leader of the Conservative party. Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats chose foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell as their new leader.

Over the past few days, Blair has been affected by a scandal over the nominations for peerage of specific Labour party campaign contributors. Four men who secretly donated money to the governing party—health entrepreneur Chai Patel, businessman David Garrard, stockbroker Barry Townsley, and Indian food magnate Gulam Noon—were later nominated for peerage by the prime minister.

The Lords Appointments Commission blocked their nominations earlier this month. Blair has denied having nominated the men in return for the loans, adding, "It cannot be a barrier to a party appointment that someone has been a financial supporter of the party."

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.

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

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