(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Britons hold differing opinions about their current government, according to a poll by Populus published in The Times. 33 per cent of respondents say they are disappointed with the current Labour party administration, but would still prefer them to a government headed by the Conservative party.

Conversely, 28 per cent of respondents say they would rather have a Tory administration, while 26 per cent express satisfaction with the current Labour government.

Labour leader Tony Blair has served as prime minister since 1997. 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.

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. 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.

Last month, the Conservative party announced that David Cameron would be their new leader. The 39-year-old Cameron becomes the fourth person to command the opposition organization in the past eight years.

The Liberal Democrats will settle on a new leader by early March. The leadership ballot was called this month after Charles Kennedy admitted to a drinking problem. Foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell, home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten, and party president Simon Hughes have already declared their candidacies.

Yesterday, former Labour leader Neil Kinnock described the current government's education plans as "at best a distraction and at worst dangerous."

Polling Data

Preference of Government

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