Poll blues for Blair ahead of local elections

London, Apr 17: British Prime Minister Tony Blair faces local elections next month with his Labour Party suffering its lowest rating since he became party leader 13 years ago, a newspaper poll revealed today.

The Populus survey for the Times newspaper put Labour on 29 per cent, while the opposition Conservatives secured 37 per cent.

Both parties were down 1 percent on the previous month.

The Liberal Democrats gained 2 per cent to 20 per cent, with 14 per cent of people quizzed opting for other parties including the Greens and nationalists, the newspaper reported.

It said Labour's support rating was the lowest ever recorded by a Populus poll for the Times, but three other polls this year had put Labour on 29 per cent, including one by ICM.

The last time Labour suffered a rating as low as 29 per cent in an ICM survey was in April 1987, according to the Times.

The poll news will make grim reading for Blair as he faces his final electoral test before stepping down later this year.

Local council elections in England and Scotland as well as elections in the devolved Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly are due to take place on May 3.

Populus interviewed 1,503 adults across the country between April 13 and 15.

Reuters