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PM ignores surveys, predicts election victory
Gordon Brown's planned political fightback ran into trouble on its first day yesterday when a new poll gave Labour its worst ratings for 30 years.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 23:42 August 21, 2008
London: Gordon Brown's planned political fightback ran into trouble on its first day yesterday when a new poll gave Labour its worst ratings for 30 years.
The Prime Minister flew out for the Olympics in Beijing - stopping to visit his country's troops in Afghanistan - brushing aside threats to his leadership and claiming that he would win the next election.
Returning to the political fray after his holiday, Brown promised hard-pressed families relief from soaring fuel, food and mortgage costs and played down suggestions that David Miliband was manoeuvring to oust him.
But any hopes of a "Beijing bounce" for Brown on the back of Britain's Olympic successes were dashed as the Ipsos/Mori survey gave the Tories a record 24-point poll lead today among those certain to vote.
Twice as many electors - 48 per cent to 24 per cent - said they would vote Tory as Labour, the biggest gap recorded since records began in 1977. It is four points wider than a month ago - with Labour dropping three. The Liberal Democrats were on 16 per cent. The Tories remain well ahead on their ability to run the economy, by 38 per cent to 23 per cent, the issue considered most important by voters. Some, 72 per cent believe things will get still worse in the next year.
Fuel price relief
Speaking on the way to Beijing, Brown confirmed that ministers were working on a package of measures to help families struggling with rising fuel bills and mortgage repayments. There has been intense speculation that he will offer families fuel vouchers.
Brown rebuffed recent Tory claims that he now had no chance of winning the next general election. "We are going to go on and win," he said.
He also played down the prospects of a September Cabinet reshuffle, insisting that he was "happy with the team."
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