Floating voters seek Brown alternative
Voters are attracted to a younger alternative to Gordon Brown, the latest opinion poll has suggested.
A Populus poll for the Times asked voters whether Labour should fight the next election under Mr Brown or opt for a younger rising star. A third responded that Labour should back the chancellor, while 55 per cent opted for a fresher alternative.
Among Labour supporters, however, 55 per cent said the party should back Mr Brown as leader.
Who the “rising star” would be remains uncertain, as David Miliband, widely tipped as an alternative to Mr Brown, emerged as less popular than the chancellor. In an election fought between Mr Miliband and David Cameron, Labour and the Tories would poll 28 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.
Moreover, the current environment secretary has routinely denied any plans to stand against Mr Brown for the Labour leadership.
Under Mr Brown, Labour could expect to poll 29 per cent, compared to the Conservatives at 42 per cent.
When asked for party preference alone, 30 per cent of those polled last weekend chose Labour, down three points on last month to the lowest rating since November. The Conservatives surged eight points ahead, opening up the widest lead in any Populus poll so far.
The Liberal Democrats fell one point to 18 per cent, compared to an average of more than 20 per cent during the last parliament, while “other parties” rose two points to 14 per cent.
The latest findings follow an ICM/Guardian poll last month, which found support for Labour drops when the party is associated with Mr Brown.
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