Poll finds public want Tony Blair to step down

Ananova ^ | June 28, 2003 | News of the World

[ejdrapes]

Poll finds public want Blair to step down

The time has come for Tony Blair to stand down, according to a poll.

Most voters say Mr Blair is no longer trustworthy, the Mori survey showed.

A majority say his record on health, crime, transport and asylum-seekers is poor. Half say he is doing a good job as Prime Minister in difficult circumstances.

But more, 53%, say he has run out of ideas and just 45% say he should stay on while 46% want him to quit.

Labour is running neck and neck with the Tories on 35%, while the Liberal democrats are on 19%, according to the poll of 1,007 adults, which was done for the News of the World.

On the key question of trust Mr Blair was backed by 36% but doubted by 58%, a big slip on a similar survey in October 2000.

Confidence in Gordon Brown has risen 11 points over the same period, with 52% now trusting him compared with 37% who do not. The Chancellor is also favourite to succeed Mr Blair, with the backing of 31%.

Home Secretary David Blunkett comes a poor second on 11%, followed by Robin Cook, who quit the Cabinet over Iraq, on 9%.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was backed by 8% while 3% went for Alan Milburn, who quit as Health Secretary because of the strain the job had placed on his family.

However, any successor may not thank Mr Blair for their inheritance. A majority - 59% - say he has failed to live up to expectations and that translates into stinging criticism of the Government's performance in five key areas.

On education 36% said it was good while 40% said poor. On health those figures were 30% to 51%, crime 26% to 51%, asylum seekers 17% to 69% and transport 25% to 53%.

[squidly]

If he's able to hang on until the WMD turns up, they'll change their minds. Over there, folks have bought more into the theory that the WMD issue was a big lie. Damned fool rush to judgment - they'll all get egg on their faces.

[cake_crumb]

"...45% say he should stay on while 46% want him to quit"

Sounds like the results from a few polls in THIS country. It's made me really mad from the beginning that Blair has more popularity in the United States than he does in Britain. What he did, he did for Britain, yet too many of his own people don't understand that.

WMD will be found.

Of course, I guess there are other factors involved, such as the EU constitution and British fears of losing their sovereignity, but his numbers didn't drop like this until the war on terror. It really makes no sense. I hope he can hold out.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

asylum seekers 17% to 69%

What is his policy on asylum seekers?

[demkicker]

Of course, I guess there are other factors involved, such as the EU constitution and British fears of losing their sovereignity, but his numbers didn't drop like this until the war on terror. It really makes no sense. I hope he can hold out.

I swear, the Brits will look a gift horse in the mouth and find something to snip about. Tony Blair has turned out to be their best defendor against terror and this is the thanks he gets. The ankle biters in the British leftist tabloid media are trying their best to sway the public against Blair. It makes me sick that the British sheeple can't see through the media tripe.

[Boston]

Thanks can be sent to PM Blair for supporting the U.S. via the website http://www.thankyoutony.com

[Cobra64]

I just did. Too bad we can't get all of us on board at that site.

[FryingPan101]

"Most voters say Mr Blair is no longer trustworthy"

Good grief! When did I fall asleep? I thought he was doing okay.

[OREALLY]

The EU would love to get rid of Tony...England better wake up before it is too late...Tony is doing what is best for England...

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

BBC is corrupt. The Brits need to stop reading untrustworthy news sources. We need some accountability for these partisan press campaigns. NO deadline or byline can justify a front page LIE with the power to ruin a career - aid our enemies and endanger the lives of OUR troops.

Commons committee poised to back Campbell in row with BBC