Recession takes Labour's ratings to an all time low

London, Mar 11 (ANI): Recessionary times have taken its toll on Britain's Labour party Ratings have slumped below 30 per cent for the first time since last September, shows the latest "poll of polls" for The Independent.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's personal rating has also fallen ack to where it was when he launched an unlikely fightback last.

In contrast, the second bailout last month did not halt Labour's slide; its ratings have fallen by three percentage points in the 11 polls taken since.

The average of all the surveys in February has estimated the Conservatives on 43 per cent (unchanged since January), Labour on 29 per cent (down two points), the Liberal Democrats 17 per cent (up one point) and other parties on 11 per cent (up one).

"It seems Labour's fortunes are now intimately tied to future financial and economic developments," said John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, who compiled the figures.

Meanwhile, in an interview to BBC Radio 4, Brown accepted the responsibility "for everything that's happened" while he was Chancellor and Prime Minister.

However, he refused to apologise for the economic crisis. (ANI)