Poll: Most UK voters do not trust Blair
Most voters in the UK do not trust Tony Blair and think he was dishonest over Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, a poll indicated today.
They also deliver a damning verdict on the government’s domestic agenda, with two thirds saying Labour has not lived up to its promises.
Asked if things had got better over a range of nine key areas, the government scored positively in just three categories.
In the wide-ranging ICM poll for the Daily Mail, 61% thought Britain was wrong to go to war with Iraq, and 67% thought the honours system has now been devalued.
It also found Labour voters were far more likely to switch allegiance in the run-up to the next General Election.
The poll was commissioned to mark Mr Blair’s 10th anniversary as Labour leader.
A total of 59% said he was dishonest about Saddam Hussein’s WMD, with 36% saying he told the truth.
Some 61% said they did not trust Mr Blair, with 36% saying they did trust him.
A total of 66% thought Labour had not lived up to its promises, against 30% who thought it had.
Other findings were:
:: On the economy, 48% said things were better, 23% said they were worse.
:: On education, 39% said better, 31% said worse.
:: On welfare and benefits, 34% said better, 28% said worse.
But the verdict was negative on all six of the other policy areas.
:: On the NHS, 35% said better, 44% said worse.
:: On EU relations, 29% said better, 38% said worse.
:: On crime, 23% said better, 53% said worse.
:: On taxes, 15% said better, 57% said worse.
:: On trust in politicians, 10% said better, 61% said worse.
:: On asylum and immigration, 11% said better, 72% said worse.
Furthermore, 37% of voters appeared to be considering abandoning the party. Only 12% of Tory voters were disillusioned with their party.
The poll comes as Mr Blair was praising Labour activists for standing by him during the trials of the war and the row over university top-up fees.
He was also warning against in-fighting ahead of the next election.
In a speech to the Labour National Policy Forum in Warwick, he was warning against a “retreat into the comfort zone” and a return to the strife of the 1970s, which did so much damage to the party.
The conference is drawing up the blueprint for Labour’s next manifesto. Union are pushing to force left-wing policies into the document.
One of the main talking points among delegates is sure to be Peter Mandelson’s return to the political limelight with his nomination as the UK’s next European Commissioner.
The principal New Labour architect, who has quit the Cabinet twice in controversy, has urged his critics to give him a chance.
Mr Blair has insisted his closest political friend was the best person for the job.
