December 17, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public aversion to Gordon Brown grew significantly in Britain this month, according to a poll by Ipsos-MORI. 54 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the way the prime minister is doing his job, up 16 points since late October.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public aversion to Gordon Brown grew significantly in Britain this month, according to a poll by Ipsos-MORI. 54 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the way the prime minister is doing his job, up 16 points since late October.

In June, 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. 39 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Cameron’s performance, while 33 per cent are dissatisfied.

On Dec. 13, Brown called for a different approach from global banking leaders—such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank—declaring, "I will make it my business to try and reform those institutions. These institutions, built for just 50 sheltered economies in what became a bipolar world, are in need of radical overhaul in an interdependent world of 200 states, where global flows of commerce, people and ideas defy borders. (...) (The IMF) should provide not just independent surveillance of the world economy, but also become its ‘early warning system’ against threats to financial stability."

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

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Gordon Brown is doing his job as prime minister?

	Dec. 7	Oct. 23
Satisfied	31%	37%
Dissatisfied	54%	38%
Don’t know	16%	24%

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way David Cameron is doing his job as leader of the Conservative party?

	Dec. 7	Oct. 23
Satisfied	39%	36%
Dissatisfied	33%	38%
Don’t know	28%	27%

Source: Ipsos-MORI
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,028 absolutely certain British voters, conducted from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7, 2007. No margin of error was provided.