PM’s rating hit by Kelly scandal
September’s ICM poll for The Guardian newspaper has found Tony Blair’s personal ratings have been seriously damaged by the Dr David Kelly scandal.
Though many of the respondents to the poll thought the PM aloof, and “untrustworthy,” Mr Blair still enjoys the trust of most of the electorate.
The ICM survey found 61 per cent of respondents were unhappy with the premier’s leadership. Only 32 per cent remained satisfied. Consequently, his personal rating has slumped to minus 29 points, down on minus 17 in July.
This time he may be in danger of losing his “Teflon Tony” reputation for good. In April Mr Blair enjoyed a brief period of popularity in the immediate aftermath of the Iraq war.
In May the PM’s net rating dropped to -8. In June it stood at -13 and in July -17.
The PM will be happy to hear that 69 per cent of Labour voters still backed him despite his annus horribilis.
The PM “trustworthiness” fell by 9 points since July to 30 per cent now.
Over half of interviewees (52 per cent) said the PM was spending too much time abroad.
And 70 per cent of voters said the Blair administration was still obsessed with public relations and spin.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,002 adults aged 18 and over from across the country by telephone between September 19 and 21.
