May 02, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe Tony Blair will be remembered for one of his economic policies, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 54 per cent of respondents think the introduction of the minimum wage will be judged as one of their prime minister's greatest successes.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many adults in Britain believe Tony Blair will be remembered for one of his economic policies, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 54 per cent of respondents think the introduction of the minimum wage will be judged as one of their prime minister's greatest successes.

Bringing peace to Northern Ireland is second on the list with 42 per cent, followed by providing Britain with steady economic growth, nearly full employment and low inflation with 36 per cent, devolving power to Scotland and Wales and bringing the Olympic Games to London with 13 per cent each, and toppling Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq with 12 per cent.

Conversely, 58 per cent of respondents think Blair's greatest failure will be allowing immigration to rise to unacceptable levels, while 55 per cent mention his decision to take part in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. In addition, 39 per cent of respondents think Blair broke his promise to be tough on crime, 36 per cent claim he allowed Britain's foreign policy to be dictated by the United States, and 31 per cent disagree with his fiscal policies.

Labour leader Blair has served as Britain's prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons. In September 2006, Blair announced his eventual retirement from politics. Current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown has been mentioned as his possible replacement.

Yesterday, Blair discussed his future, saying, "Within the next few weeks I won't be the prime minister of this country. In all probability a Scot (Brown) will become prime minister of this country and that's someone who built one of the strongest economies in the world and who I've always said would make a great prime minister."

Polling Data

Which three of the following would you judge to have been the greatest successes of Tony Blair's time as prime minister?

Introducing the minimum wage	54%
Bringing peace to Northern Ireland	42%
Providing Britain with steady economic growth, nearly full employment and low inflation	36%
Devolving power to Scotland and Wales	13%
Bringing the Olympic Games to London	13%
Toppling Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq	12%
Leading the world in the fight against climate change	11%
Improving the quality of public services such as education and the National Health Service (NHS)	10%
Reducing the overall levels of crime	6%
None of these	17%
Don't know	8%

And which three of the following would you judge to have been the greatest failures of Tony Blair's time as prime minister?

Allowing immigration to rise to unacceptable levels	58%
Taking part in the US-led invasion of Iraq	55%
Not carrying out his promise to be "tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime"	39%
Allowing Britain's foreign policy to be dictated, in effect, by the United States	36%
Raising taxes but without the country having much to show for it	31%
Bringing political life into disrepute as a result of "spin" and episodes like "cash for honours"	30%
Failing to tackle climate change with sufficient vigour	7%
Failing to take Britain into the euro (the single European currency)	6%
None of these	2%
Don't know	6%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,019 British adults, conducted from Apr. 23 to Apr. 25, 2007. No margin of error was provided.