Posted on 03/24/2003 11:30:08 AM PST by JohnHuang2
New UK poll confirms majority now favour war
LONDON, March 24 (Reuters) - The majority of Britons now approve of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, following a large swing as the conflict began last week, a new poll showed on Monday.
In the ICM poll, due to be published in the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, 54 percent of Britons said they supported a military campaign to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, compared with 38 percent in a previous March 16 poll.
The number in favour was even lower last month with just 29 percent backing war in mid-February.
It was the latest survey to confirm a swing in favour of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had faced widespread opposition for throwing his weight behind U.S. President George W. Bush's build-up of pressure on Saddam.
Monday's survey confirmed, however, there was still a significant anti-war bloc in Britain, with 30 percent against. But that was down from 44 percent in mid-March.
ICM's poll of 1,008 adults between March 22 and March 23 showed support for war was higher among British men, at 61 percent, than women, at 47 percent.
Most supporters of Blair's centre-left ruling Labour Party, 58 percent, back war, while support is even higher, at 66 percent, among the right-wing opposition Conservative Party.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.