British voters losing hope in Labour: poll

Voters increasingly do not believe new policy initiatives or a fresh new leader can save the Labour party from electoral disaster, a new poll published Tuesday showed.

According to the Populus survey for The Times, the proportion of voters who believe that significant changes in key domestic policy areas like health, crime and tax will bring about a change in Labour's fortunes has dropped from 69 percent in May to 56 percent presently.

Meanwhile, there was a three percentage point increase since May in the amount of voters who did not believe a younger leader could save the party to 44 percent, along with a one point drop in those who believed it could to 52 percent.

Overall, backing for Labour fell one point compared to a similar poll three weeks ago to 27 percent, while the main opposition Conservatives gained two points to 43 percent.

The smaller opposition Liberal Democrats fell one point to 18 percent.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's party suffered a crushing by-election defeat last week in Glasgow East, formerly safe Labour territory, by conceding a 13,507-vote majority, its third by-election loss in as many months.

The media has reported in recent days that unnamed senior ministers have said Brown must lead a concerted fightback, or face the consequences, with several commentators agreeing that he effectively has until Labour's annual conference in September to revive the party's fortunes.

Populus questioned 1,002 voters by telephone between July 25 and 27.

(Agencies)