Times poll predicts election humiliation for Labour Party

London, May 30(ANI): The British ministers' expenses scandal has had a devastating impact on the Labour Party and on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for according to a populus poll for The Times found the Labour's overall position slide to 21 per cent, its lowest in polling history.

When asked how they would vote in next week's European election, for the first time the Labour Party was placed way behind the UK Independence Party and the Tories.

With 62 per cent of those polled citing the Prime Minister as the most damaged, Gordon Brown appears to have taken the biggest hit in connection with the scandal. Only 14 per cent believe that Labour is likely to win outright in the next general election, compared with 51 per cent for the Conservatives.

Even minority parties including the Greens and the British National Party, have made striking advances in the past three weeks as the row over MPs' allowances has engulfed all major parties.

On Friday, Elliot Morley became the most high profile Labour casualty when he announced that he would stand down as Labour MP for Scunthorpe at the next election. The former Environment Minister could face a criminal investigation after claiming 16,000 pounds in mortgage interest, 18 months after the mortgage was paid off.

"The last two weeks have been traumatic for me and I have to think of my family and health, both of which have suffered. I have never tried to duck responsibility for my mistake and have repaid the amount in full. I understand people's anger over the whole issue of MPs' expenses," Elliot Morley said.

Since the Populus poll this month, the overall general election standings put the Conservatives at 41 per cent, with a two percentage gain, while Labour lost five points coming down to 21 per cent. The Liberal Democrats were on 15 per cent, down seven points.

However, a different picture emerges when people were asked how they would vote on Thursday.

The Conservatives dropped four points to 30 per cent, compared with the poll three weeks ago.

Labour dropped nine points to 16 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats fell eight points to 12 per cent.

UKIP are the beneficiaries, gaining 13 points to 19 per cent, ahead of Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The Greens rose to 10 per cent, and the BNP is up three points at five per cent. (ANI)