Blair, Labour Government Hit Rock Bottom in Poll

[Thurston Howell IV]

Polls released today suggest public support for Labour is draining away, with one survey even putting Tony Blair’s party in third place for the first time in more than 20 years.

A poll for tomorrow’s News of the World put Labour on just 28% as it goes into what will probably be its last annual conference before a general election in the spring, one point behind the Liberal Democrats on 29% and three behind the Conservatives on 32%.

The last time Labour plumbed such depths was under the leadership of Michael Foot, and the party has not trailed both of its main rivals since the heyday of the SDP/Liberal Alliance in the early 1980s.

But a second survey for the Independent on Sunday suggested that Labour was still on top by a narrow margin, with a rating of 32% against the Tories’ 30% and the Lib Dems’ 27%.

Both polls were conducted at the end of a successful conference week for Charles Kennedy’s Lib Dems, and each recorded a seven-point boost for the party.

They suggest that the issue of Iraq and the ongoing crisis over British hostage Kenneth Bigley are seriously damaging Labour ratings.

And they indicate the mountain Mr Blair must climb in order to win voters’ enthusiasm for the domestic policy agenda he is hoping to launch this week in Brighton.

The IoS poll found that Mr Blair is considered out of touch and inflexible by as many people as said the same of Margaret Thatcher just before her downfall in 1990.

Some 63% said he was out of touch with ordinary people and 57% that he was inflexible, compared to 63% and 35% for Mrs Thatcher in September 1990.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3546519

[jpgray]

1. Ah, comeuppance. Unfortunately Bush has yet to have his. (nt)

[lovuian]

2. Blair is going to destroy the Labour Party

and the Labour Party is going to let him do it

This is a wake up call to the Democratic Party

if they don't produce a winner in 8 years this maybe a big wakeup call

[jpgray]

4. No, we don't quite have functioning democracy

People are not getting the information they need to make a decision. If they were, Bush's numbers would be like to Blair's.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Maybe they are.

(If they were, Bush's numbers would be like to Blair's.)

[jpgray]

6. We'll see in November

We're doing well with registration--absolutely trouncing the Republicans in OH and FL. Of course the NYT headline is the typical 'both parties gain in registration' equalizing crap they never seem to do when the numbers are in our favor.

[EnfantTerrible]

3. I guess refusing to come pick up his medal of honor

didn't do much for him at home.

[Brundle_Fly]

7. be nice to see

Blair impeached before the election in Nov. might give lots of coverage to the facts that are not getting out...


just my dreamy mind. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yes your dreamy mind

Most muricans are NOT aware of the travails of Blair

this is not covered in our wonderful <sarcasm fully engaged> and ever so free Fourth Estate

[Hekate]

9. Bush allies dropping like flies

The Spaniards didn't want to be part of invading Iraq and their government did so anyway. I don't think it was the terrorist attacks on the trains that made them vote out their elected officials the first chance they got.

Likewise the Brits told Blair the same thing in no uncertain terms and he still joined with Bushit. Payback is a bitch, Tony.

I can only hope we do the same here to Bush.

Hekate

[arcos]

10. wow, the Liberal Democrats are doing GREAT! n/t

[IndianaGreen]

11. They should turn their backs on Blair and the New Labour pukes

and throw their support to Charles Kennedy's Liberal Democrats.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. dupe

of http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x864601

[Moderator]

13. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=864601