Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Support for Labour slumps to 14-year low

Andrew Grice
Tuesday 09 May 2006 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Labour support has collapsed to a 14-year low following infighting at the top of the party, according to an opinion poll today.

The Populus survey published in The Times, the first conducted since Labour's local election drubbing, shows the Tories have built an eight-point lead over the Government. Backing for Labour has tumbled by six points since early April to just 30 per cent, the party's worst performance in any survey since 1992.

The Conservatives are up four points to 38 per cent, while the Liberal Democrats are down one point to 20 per cent.

Over the past month, the Government has been hit by a series of hugely damaging headlines, from the cash-for-peerages affair to the foreign prisoner release fiasco, and revelations about John Prescott's private life.

The poll shows that Tony Blair's standing with the public has also suffered as a result. Support for him remaining as Prime Minister beyond the end of this year has dropped in just one month from 42 to 31 per cent, and half of the public want him to step down by December. More than half believe "the Government's biggest problem is now Tony Blair himself''.

Nearly three-quarters of people dismiss last week's cabinet reshuffle as an attempt to divert attention from the Government's real problems. Nearly two-thirds believe: "The way things are going, Labour will lose the next general election''. The survey will be a big boost to the Tories under David Cameron. It shows that his personal rating is now higher than the Prime Minister's, the first time a Tory leader has been ahead of Mr Blair.

Asked about the next general election, respondents gave Mr Cameron an even larger lead over the probable Labour leader at that time, Gordon Brown.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in