Labour popularity nears new low

Labour's popularity nears all-time low according to Guardian/ICM poll

Saturday, 24, Nov 2007 12:00

A new poll shows Labour's popularity approaching the nadir reached during the end of Tony Blair's premiership.

The survey published in the Guardian was taken after news that the bank details of 25 million child benefit claimants had gone missing. While the poll shows Labour's points tally falling by four points to 31 per cent it also reveals a three per cent dip in the Conservative party's popularity to 37 per cent.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have gained ground with a three per cent increase since previous polls with their performance in by-elections and their calls for a Northern Rock takeover seeming to appeal to respondents.

The results of the poll are likely to be most concerning for Labour since the Tories have now increased their lead over their rivals by a point and because they are only two points adrift of their worst month in recent history when Mr Blair faced stern opposition from his own party in October 2006.

After taking over as prime minister Gordon Brown experienced a surge in his approval ratings. Besides the bounce attributed to the novelty of a new leader, Labour continued to widen its lead over the Tories in spite of a series of crises such as the July floods, the outbreak of foot and mouth and the foiled car bomb plot in central London.

However, recent polls have shown a growing negative perception of both Mr Brown's leadership as well as that of the party he leads as he ruled out a snap election in the autumn.

Recent problems such as the viability of the government's support for failed lender Northern Rock and the loss of sensitive data seem to have dealt a further blow to support for Labour.

The latest polls conducted by research firm ICM were based on interviews with a representative sample of 1,005 adults.