British govt loses more ground in latest poll
Thursday, 21 February 2008
LONDON, Feb 20 (AFP): Britain's main opposition Conservatives saw their narrow lead over the governing Labour party widen by a small margin, according to a poll published in The Guardian Wednesday.
The ICM survey was carried out before the government announced controversial plans to nationalise troubled bank Northern Rock-the first official nationalisation in Britain since the 1970s.
It put backing for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party at 34 per cent, down one percentage point from a similar poll last month.
The Conservatives held steady at 37 per cent, while the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats gained one point to 21 per cent.
Crucially, the poll also showed that 51 per cent of Britons were pessimistic about their economic prospects, a seven-point increase from December.
That is likely to put further pressure on Brown and his finance minister Alistair Darling.
Both have been heavily criticised for the decision to nationalise Northern Rock, with critics questioning their economic competence.
ICM questioned 1,003 adults by telephone between February 15 and 17.
The ICM survey was carried out before the government announced controversial plans to nationalise troubled bank Northern Rock-the first official nationalisation in Britain since the 1970s.
It put backing for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party at 34 per cent, down one percentage point from a similar poll last month.
The Conservatives held steady at 37 per cent, while the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats gained one point to 21 per cent.
Crucially, the poll also showed that 51 per cent of Britons were pessimistic about their economic prospects, a seven-point increase from December.
That is likely to put further pressure on Brown and his finance minister Alistair Darling.
Both have been heavily criticised for the decision to nationalise Northern Rock, with critics questioning their economic competence.
ICM questioned 1,003 adults by telephone between February 15 and 17.