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From The Times

May 7, 2008

55% of Labour voters want Gordon Brown to resign

Gordon Brown speaks to the media after a meeting at 10 Downing Street

Peter Riddell

More than a half of Labour supporters believe that Gordon Brown should stand down to make way for a more electable alternative.

Today’s Populus poll for The Times — the first survey since last Thursday’s local elections — shows a dramatic collapse of confidence in Mr Brown’s leadership.

The Prime Minister’s personal rating has dropped sharply, along with that for Labour. He now trails David Cameron and Nick Clegg in the leadership stakes.

Labour lost the London mayoralty and 331 council seats in Thursday’s rout. Labour MPs returned to Westminster in despair, fearing another setback in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election on May 22, which Mr Cameron has decided to make a test of his credibility.

A huge factor was the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Backbenchers have demanded that Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, announce quickly how he intends to compensate low-paid workers who are worse off.

Frank Field and Greg Pope, who are leading the backbench campaign, met Mr Darling. In a statement last night, they said that they were told that he was searching actively for as many losers as possible and considering how they could be compensated.

Mr Brown was subjected to more criticism. Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, called on him to dispense with “dog whistle” slogans, such as his “British jobs for British workers”.

The most devastating finding of the poll is that 55 per cent of Labour voters believe that the party would be more likely to win the next general election if Mr Brown resigned “to make way for a younger, fresher, more charismatic alternative”.

Mr Brown’s leader rating (on a 0 to 10 scale) has dropped sharply from 4.50 to 4.08 in a month — well below the other leaders. His rating among those saying that they will vote Labour at the next election has fallen to 5.68 (from 6.26 in April and 6.72 in March). Among people who voted Labour in 2005, Mr Brown’s rating is now 5.04, down from 5.60 in April.

Other key findings from the poll, taken between May 2 and 4, include:

— Support for Labour has fallen by four points in a month to 29 per cent. The Tories have gained one point to 40 per cent; their lead of 11 points is the largest in the five years of Populus polls. The Liberal Democrats are two points up at 19 per cent, with other parties one point ahead at 12 per cent.

— The number who trust Mr Brown and Alistair Darling most to deal with economic problems has fallen to 30 per cent, down from 43 per cent in mid-March and 61 per cent in early September.

— The poll suggested that Mr Brown could not solve his problems by bringing in fresh faces with a big Cabinet reshuffle. Only 36 per cent think a reshuffle would make Labour more likely to win the next election. Only Labour voters, by a 51 to 41 per cent margin, support a reshuffle.

— More than two thirds of all voters, and nearly four fifths of Labour supporters, think that significant policy changes in areas such as the NHS, crime and tax would make Labour more likely to win the next election.

Mr Field said that the Chancellor’s failure to explain properly the compensation deal for those affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate, had damaged Labour. He gave warning that the issue would continue to harm the party until it was dealt with fully.

Mr Cameron has decided to make the 10p row the centrepiece of his Crewe campaign. “We’ve got 15 days to overturn Labour’s majority of more than 7,000,” he said, before heading off to the constituency. “Obviously it’s going to be a tall order but we are going to give it our best shot. Our message will focus in particular on the 10p tax rate and how Gordon Brown is hurting the people of Crewe with tax increases just at the moment their cost of living is going up.”

Mr Brown presided over a lengthy session of the Cabinet at which there was reported to have been frank exchanges during an inquest about the poll setbacks. While ministers strongly supported Mr Brown, they called for urgent action to show that Labour was, as he insisted in television interviews on Sunday, on the side of working people.

— Populus interviewed a random sample of 1509 adults aged over 18 by telephone between May 2 and 4. Interviews were conducted across the country and have been weighted to be representative of all adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council. For more details go to www.populus.co.uk.

I genuinly believe that the torys are going to be jolted into shockvery significantly at the next General Election.........Gordon has sincerity and capability on his side and discerning voters know that

Eric, Southwick, England

it isn't right that labour should replace brown and have two years to muddle through and try to show they have a new course worth backing. brown should step down and labour should fight an election and let us choose the new course. mps are supposed to represent us, not themselves or their parties.

jem, london, uk

It is sad to see a man achieve his lifetime ambition, only to have it snatched away from him. But the fact remains that however able he is/isn't as a politician, he is not a leader of men. Or women. Or anything else.
Step down, Gordon, before you suffer the ultimate ignominy of being stood down.

Mike Poulsen, Reading, Berkshire

Wake up Gordon and see the wood through the trees? You harp on about the poor people of our society. Its the middle classes who gave Labour a chance have and started to wake up to the amount of taxes direct and indirect they now pay!! NEW labour old labour principals, shut the door on your way out!

N Worthington, Cheshire, UK

He wanted the job so badly, and he's performed it so badly. So many personaility flaws.

Blair won the last general election (somehow), not Brown. Rather than standing down as leader, he should be obliged to call a general election now so that the population can really say what they think.

David Harrison, Manchester, UK

Fabio, neraly right. We elected Blair, he put Brown as Chancellor. We haven't elected Brown. All the good times came under a different leader.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

It seems that only the Conservative Party doesn't want Brown out, but of course he is the Tories "trump card".

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Gordon Brown, go back to your constituency and preapare for opposition.

Bertha Vanation, Poundland, UK

We have gone down the same route as the Wilson/Callaghan debacle. Labour has always been a high tax, high spend administration, the sad thing being that it these social engineering experiments often produce short term gains but do not work in the long term and the Labour hierarchy never learn.

Peter, Brixham, Devon

"55% of Labour voters want Gordon Brown to resign" And probably a bigger percentage of the poulation, but being on the top of the greasy pole, he won't let that bother him! So don't hold your breath folks, he's here for the duration. Anyone else notice the similarity with the situation in Ireland?

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

To Anne in Glasgow, I look forward to seeing the Scots struggle on their own. North sea oil has had not one penny of Scotish money spend on exploration. I don't want Brown to go, he has got massive amounts of work to deligate. I'm stuned that canabis legislation at the front of tasks to do.

Ray, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

We wanted Ken Livingstone. We got Boris Johnson. We want Gordon Brown, But we might get David Cameron !
What we really want is Democracy and that is what we get in the United Kingdom.Power in the hands of the electorate and the people, not individuals.
Mugabe, please take note !

dkp, London, UK

It's the story of the emperors new clothes with Brown.

He probably believed in his own economic competence. However when the favourable economic conditions ended, and we were forced to look closely, there is absolutely nothing there. His sheer, naked incompetence is there for us all to see.

Colin, Edinburgh,

With a Brown defeat (or a hung parliament) seeming likely Labour need to move quickly and act ruthlessly. There is still time (just) for a fresh leader and a re-launch; “New New Labour”. But who could take up the role? The candidates seem to be: David Miliband, John Reid, Alan Johnson, John Hutton, Alan Milburn and Charles Clarke. Quite a promotion to PM! Even if the relaunch was only worth a few percent that may be enough to keep the Tories out.

Graham Airth, Nr. Inverurie , Scotland

Brown should not ".... stand upon the order of his going."

Brian, Canterbury, UK

Anne, we in England look forward to you getting your MPs back.

Doug Bates, St. Albans,

'they were told that he was searching actively for as many losers as possible' - does that imply he didn't know ? that the abolition of the 10p rate was just a 'merry wheeze' and the effects were unknown? Oh good plan !

Tony, Cardiff,

Labour should keep Brown in charge for as long as possible. That way we'll be rid of them at the next election and they'll be out of power for at least a decade.

Hooray for Gordon.

Steve H, Boston, UK

With the 10pence taxation being no longer available my own tax has doubled literally. I am a woman of 61 therefore at the lower rate of income, and now being taxed at £40 per month, whereas before my whole income over my pension came within the 10p tax band.
All other outgoings have risen, get rid

patricia, chesterfield, derbyshire

Can I just point out that 29% of people would still vote Labour, which will probable rise a few points come a general election if we held one tomorrow. Comments on this board should not make out they reflect the view of everybody, for fear of sounding like ranting loons. Keep it real, people.

Ezra Mayo, Oxford,

The only person who thinks Gordon should remain as our Primeminister is Gordy.
Gordon can't help the man in the street because this would mean cutting taxes and he can't do that because he will break his own 'Golden rule'.
Cutting public spending is political suicide for him.
Hope he stays.

tony b, Lowestoft, uk

55% of labour voters - they must all be up North. I recently spoke to a man from Liverpool who stated that most people up there are in denial about the uselessness of Nu Labour.

Frederick, London, UK

Where does oil come into this, Anne from Glasgow?! Not a bad tactic. The hoped for reaction is lots of anti Scottish remarks from little Englanders (I’m sure you’ll get them they don’t take much winding up); thereby providing good copy to stoke the independence case in Scotland and the English nationalist case down south.

Hatty Pols, Newcastle, UK

The message to the government is that they no longer represent the majority of the electorate .. and clearly do not have a mandate to do anything .. the country is saying call a General Election and put your vision and policies to the TRUE test.

Guy Winter, London,

Wendy Alexander hasn't 'broken away' from the PM. On Newsnight last night, when asked whether the PM and Cabinet knew, she said one word - "Yes". Also, please keep an eye out for the Constitutional Reform Bill going through Parliament at the moment. What is the govt.changing and why?

Susan, London,

belligerent and ignorant of ordinary people's opinions.

no-one has voted him in so he shouldnt even be there

he could redeem his image a little bit by quitting but he will probably hang on by his finger tips until he is kicked

o.g.woodbine, overwyre, uk

he has lost so many voters over the cannabis thing and again he wont listen thats all he needs to do is listen to the experts that know what they are talking about but he wont
get rid of gordon now but if you dont do it right now and change back what he has messed up you will lose

pete hammond, Verwood,

At what time can a 'vote of confidence' be called? I think now is a good time....

Matt Jeary, London, UK

We in Scotland look forward to the end of Labour's reign, but for the moment they are doing wonderful things for our progress towards independence. Oh! by the way, we'll keep our North Sea oil when we become independent.

Anne, Glasgow,

Richard James: I seem to recall that Broon and his cronies, along with millions of others I might add, wanted Blair gone so him bailing out is not really fair. The 'Peter Principle' applies to Broon in this case and probably did before he took up residence at No 11 in 1997.

Tom, North Yorkshire,

He is not to blame for the present economic problems. If anyone to blame, no others than the US is to blame. Given what he has done, give him another chance.

Tian Qingyou, Tianjin,

People have forgotten the days when unemployment was rife, poor people were ignored and hospital waiting times were sometimes years.

It will happen again under Tory rule, but I agree Brown needs to step down for a more modern and progressive leader (although who is there)

Norman West, Truro, uk

fabio,
yeah your right we didn't complain then...but times are more difficult now and yet they are still raising taxes and punishing families and the poor in incredibly stupid and reckless ways. tax and spend and now they have run out of cash and are trying to use the middle class as a cash cow

Alex, London, England

Brown stood up as Chancellor last year and triumphantly announced cutting the basic rate to 20%. No mention of losers in the 10% band. He hid it like he hid all his other stealth taxes and treated us all with contempt. There is no way back from that and he might as well go now.

Robert, Salisbury, UK

Come Back Tony 'All is Forgiven' it seems that he was very much 'The Captain' and that even Gordon's chancellorship was being run from the bridge. Brown should do as suggested by others - Go below Decks and standown.

Bryn Proctor, Wakefield,

Listen and lead? Impossible for him. Far better if he were to "Listen and LEAVE"! (Along with the rest of his incompetent no-hopers!)

Milo, Uckfield, UK

Not surprised. How long will the public hear him say" I have been in the job for 6 months (or so) and am still learning. We will make ,mistakes" - Well I ask, how long has he been a politician and a senior one?

Paul Smith, York, UK

I think that all those calls for Brown to resign are unfare. Did averyone already forget the good times when everyone was soooo happy about the ever clibing housing prices and how everyone reelected Blair and Brown, not one, but two times? Is time to pay the bill.

Fabio C, London, UK

Whats more shocking about you headline is that 45% don't.

Dan, London, England

Labour have their 21st century James Callaghan, the 10p tax fiasco is Mr Browns "Winter of Discontent". Mr Brown can mumble his apologies but the damage is done and the die cast. Now it is for the conservatives to lose the next G.E. Its time for Labour to see sense and cut out the cancer quickly.

Barry, London, UK

Brown will cling on to power for as long as he can, in one way I think that he should remain in power - I want him to be in Downing St. to get the full reckoning for all the years of tax and fritter policies. If he stays he'll ensure that meddling, socialist wasters don't get to ruin England again

Simon, Middlesbroug, UK

The country still needs to be run and it's just not happening. All Labour politicians are spending more time worrying about their own jobs instead of the state of the country.

Well actually they are incapable of the job anyway so lets just get rid now.

Brown needs to do the honourable thing.

Dek Crossingham, Birmingham, England

I think Gordon Brown is an excellent leader for Labour... into the abyss at the next election for a generation.

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon

Too little, too late. Labour look doomed to be destroyed at the next election whatever happens - remember that each new reshuffle and initiative will be met by a resignation, comment out of turn, corruption scandal etc.
Hold the election now, lose, sack Brown, and things can only then get better.

Dave, Slough,

Can someone tell me where all the tax moneys going. The government is racking in zillions of us drivers and what do we get - nothing, execpt poor road, more speed cameras and sky high fuel prices - is it ant wonder that Brown is on the nose

Mike D, burgh heath, Reigate

Brown has to stay. I am looking forward with relish to the day that the electorate dump him and his despicable party.

Tod Ramston, Willenhall,

Completely agree with peterj, Aberdeen-and I pro-Labour in 1997 hoping for better things after that idiot, Major. But, No:
1. Huge rises in tax take (and for so little in return)
2. Retrospective taxes-a Gordon Brown favourite
3. Ballooning PSBR/private debt/Gold Sales :=((
Oh BTW..IRAQ etc,etc

Robin, Hassocks, UK

Please keep Gordy where he is. It will be much funnier and a brilliant punishment to leave him be until the next general election when the whole country can let him know what we think of him. Cruel? He will then know what it is like to be a UK taxpayer at the moment.

Robyn, Aberdeen,

No point in a reshuffle unless Labour can produce hitherto unknown talent. None of the possible known replacements will make one iota of difference.There seems to be a dire shortage of able administrators in the Labour party.

George Herbert, Bournemouth,

45+% of voters want Labour to resign..!
For the sake of our country please do!

peterj, Aberdeen,

Surely, not only the abolition of the 10p tax rate is the reason for the goverments downfall. Have we forgotten the current fuel prices. It would be nice if the government considered reducing its fuel tax by 10p per litre. Just give the current climate 6 months then look at inflation. I dread it !!!

Keith, Sheerness, England

Got to agree with Liz. Thre has been too much spin and focus on targets, when real issues have been forgotten.

Hamad Lone, London, England

Poor old Gordon ten years of cocking up the economy and then Bliar bails out leaving him to pick up the pieces of... well his own mistakes!

Perhaps there is justice after all!

Doug Hardy, Manchester ,

I'm told that the last PM who chewed his fingernails like Brown does was Neville Chamberlain & look what happened to him.

Richard , Cambridge,

If 55% of laboor voters want Brown to quit, what is the matter with the other 45%? I guess you can "fool some of the people all of the time".

Bryan D, Brentwood, GB

Good call Peter, I totally agree. The test of a Goverment is how they deal with less favourable economic times. Brown and Co. get a big "F" for that.

Craig Free, Croft,

In a rising tide everything floats....in the last 10 years global economic growth and prosperity has propped up Brown + Labour's mismanagement of the countries finances. There is no "new labour" or "3rd way" just labour with their tax and spend policies and condescending nanny mentality.

Doug Bates, St. Albans,

Gordon is taking the heat for raising taxes when the economy is under pressure. Inflation at 2.5%? No wonder no one believes him. Look at fuel and food prices in the last year, look at falling house values, look at a man who cannot help but raise taxes in devious ways. He's toast

richard block, London, uk

Gordon Brown is by far the best leader for personality, i nearly chocked on my cereal when i read that. That is one thing Gordon Brown lacks and good constrictive policy's has well. But then if you look deeper into the Labout Party,just who would take the poison chalice of the leadership from him?.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

Labour have failed to deliver prudence and stability. Get rid of Brown and who are they going to replace them with?. Balls and Milliband. Balls is tainted by Brown. Milliband what as he ever done?

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

It's the Wilson / Callaghan "thing" all over again...

Dave, Hastings,

Brown epitomizes socialism at its worst - I detest everything that he and his party stands for. With a favorable global economy for the last ten years, a chimpanzee could have done no worse as chancellor. He is merely seeing the results of ten years of ineptitude and waste finally catch up with him.

peterj, Aberdeen,

Even if the PM and the Chancellor are thick as two planks there must be someone in the Treasury with half a brain who would have alerted them to the 10p implications.

It follows therefore that this was a deliberate policy decision and as such would be unforgivable in Labour supporters eyes.

Maurice Smith, Medway, Kent

I feel sorry for his finger nails - or whats left of them !

Peter Hooper, Windsor., UK

you have to hand it to Tony Blair, he knew when to bail out and let someone else carry the can.

irchard james, london, UK

I think Gordon Brown is by far the best leader for personality.What I don't like are his policies. He needs to address the 10p income tax rate, and significantly increase the nil rate bands so fewer people pay inheritance tax.I still think Gordon Brown can recover from this set back.

John James, Bristol, uk

Whoever will bring back our troops, be tough on crime, make taxation fairer. I am sick listening about University places,lots of our kids are leaving High School and cannot read, spell or do mental arithmetic - what good is University to them. Give the ordinary kids something to look forward to.

Liz, Edinburgh, Scotland

I do not thinlk you realise it down in England, but the fact that Wendy Alexander (the alleged "Leader of the opposition in the Scottish Parliament") has broken away from her patron and leader, the PM, is a harbinber of what is to come. The whirl wind is about to engulf the reaper.

James B, Edinburgh,