Brits wary of Bush’s presidency
Britons are still largely opposed to the foreign policies of US President George W Bush, according to a new poll.
The results from the Populus poll for The Times newspaper were released following Tony Blair’s annual Guildhall speech to the Lord Mayor of London’s banquet last night.
In London, Mr Blair said the transatlantic alliance remained in “good shape.”
Mr Bush is to visit the UK next week on a three-day tour.
The poll found half of respondents were against Mr Blair’s decision to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with his US counterpart. They said the UK-US special relationship was harmful to Britain’s national interest.
Overall, 25 per cent of respondents disapproved of the US President’s decision to go to war against Iraq.
Women were especially critical of this year’s military action against Iraq with 67 per cent opposed to Mr Bush’s policy. Only 14 per cent backed his decision to oust Saddam Hussein from power.
Fifty nine per cent said America had lost some degree of respect among world nations under Mr Bush’s presidency.
Only two-fifths (39 per cent) said Mr Bush was a “strong” president.
Populus interviewed 964 people aged 18 and over between November 7 and 9.
