Ten times as many British voters hold President Bush responsible for the violence and instability in Iraq as blame Tony Blair, according to a Times poll.

The poll, undertaken by Populus last weekend, also shows that support for British troops staying in Iraq for as long as it takes to make it a stable democracy is now at a record low. (For more details, see www.populuslimited.com).

Interviews were held amid the controversy over Saddam Hussein’s execution and as Mr Bush prepared to announce the results of his policy review on Iraq. A third of the public (34 per cent) think that Mr Bush is responsible for the violence. Tory voters (26 per cent) are the least likely to blame him and Liberal Democrats (48 per cent) the most likely. Labour voters are on 33 per cent.

Only 3 per cent hold Mr Blair most responsible, in between those blaming Iran (4 per cent) and Syria (2 per cent). This ties in with a widespread view that Mr Blair has been dragged into an unwinnable conflict. Next to Mr Bush, the Iraqi people themselves (22 per cent) are blamed for the continuing violence, followed by al-Qaeda (12 per cent) and Saddam Hussein (4 per cent).

The high level of killings and instability have contributed to a decline in support for British troops staying as long as necessary to a new low of 31 per cent, down from 35 per cent last November and 49 per cent in October 2004. By contrast, 60 per cent now want British troops to be withdrawn “as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable”. This compares with 58 per cent last November and 42 per cent in October 2004. The net balanace, withdraw against stay, is now at a record high of 29 points.

Women are much keener than men for British troops to be withdrawn soon: 53 per cent of men and 66 per cent of women think that British troops should be pulled out as soon as possible. On the other hand, 41 per cent of men believe that British troops should stay until Iraq is stable, but only 23 per cent of women do so. Professionals and managers (42 per cent) are twice as likely as unskilled manual workers (21 per cent) to back British troops staying as long as it takes to make Iraq stable.

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