December 23, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More adults in Britain have developed negative views on their prime minister, according to a poll by YouGov. 68 per cent of respondents think Gordon Brown is doing badly as head of government—up 25 points in a month—while 32 per cent believe he is doing well.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More adults in Britain have developed negative views on their prime minister, according to a poll by YouGov. 68 per cent of respondents think Gordon Brown is doing badly as head of government—up 25 points in a month—while 32 per cent believe he is doing well.

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. 53 per cent of respondents think Cameron is doing well as leader of the opposition—up seven points in a month—while 33 per cent believe he is doing badly.

Earlier this month, the British government revealed that 502 foreign prisoners were freed before their official point of release—under the End of Custody Licence scheme—but were not deported from the country. Shadow justice secretary Nick Herbert expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "These are not petty criminals who are being released. Prison is reserved for serious and persistent offenders. In our view, any foreign national who commits a crime and is imprisoned should expect to be deported. That was what Gordon Brown said too. He did not mean what he said."

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

Do you think Gordon Brown is doing well or badly as prime minister?

	Dec. 2007	Nov. 2007	Oct. 2007
Well	32%	33%	59%
Badly	68%	43%	29%
Don’t know	9%	24%	12%

Do you think David Cameron is doing well or badly as Conservative leader?

	Dec. 2007	Nov. 2007	Oct. 2007
Well	53%	46%	54%
Badly	33%	31%	34%
Don’t know	15%	23%	12%

Source: YouGov
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,481 British adults, conducted from Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, 2007. No margin of error was provided.