'Cameron Effect' Gives Tories 7-Point Lead

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


1//The Independent, UK Published: 07 June 2006

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article656404.ece



‘CAMERON EFFECT’ GIVES TORIES SEVEN-POINT LEAD

By Andrew Grice, Political Editor



David Cameron's rejuvenated Conservative Party has opened a seven-point lead over Labour, according to The Independent's latest "poll of polls".

As the Tory leader completed six months in his post, the analysis of the opinion surveys taken in May put his party on 39 per cent (up four points on April), Labour 32 per cent (down one point) and the Liberal Democrats on 19 (down two points).

The figures will deepen the gloom among Labour MPs as they contemplate how long Tony Blair should carry on as Prime Minister. They suggest that the "Cameron effect" has revived the Tories' fortunes because the party has swapped places with Labour in the polls since he took over as leader in December. In the previous month, Labour had a six-point advantage.

"It looks as though we may have entered a new political era," said John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, who compiled the weighted average of the polls conducted by ICM, MORI, Populus and YouGov.

All eight surveys taken since Labour's "Black Wednesday" in April have put the Tories three or more points ahead of Labour. It is the first time since the Conservatives' own "Black Wednesday" in 1992 that there has been such a long run of polls showing them ahead of Labour. The previous longest run was at the time of the 2000 fuel crisis.

Professor Curtice said: "While individual polls have sometimes put the Conservatives ahead in recent years, this is the first time that all the pollsters have agreed that the Tories are in the lead."


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[bleever]

1. Tony, Tony, Tony...

You took your unwilling nation into this coalition in Iraq because you thought that Britain had to walk with the U.S. to be a world leader.

You ended up looking like a world-class misleader.

I don't know why, but I still feel bad for you, after what you've gotten yourself into. I think you wanted the best for Britain.

At least, that's more than I can say for the leader of our country.

[Kagemusha]

2. Anyone here think this isn't a Tony Effect by another name?

i.e. the Tories finally put up a leader who's not a national embarassment and all of a sudden Tony doesn't look so invincible.

Just asking. Those who genuinely disagree are quite welcome to.

[Benhurst]

3. I think you are right. Labour had better flush Tony,

the sooner the better.

It may very well be too late.

[CJCRANE]

4. I feel (almost) sorry for Brown.

Blair may just take him down with him if he insists on clinging on to power.