Majority of Labour voters want Brown to quit before next election

A survey of grassroots supporters of the Labour Party has revealed that 60 per cent want Prime Minister Gordon Brown to step down before he is due to go to the electorate in 2010.

London, June 23 : A survey of grassroots supporters of the Labour Party has revealed that 60 per cent want Prime Minister Gordon Brown to step down before he is due to go to the electorate in 2010.

The survey shows that a year into his premiership, Brown is now more unpopular with Labour party members than he is with the general public, only 44 per cent of whom want him to leave Downing Street immediately, the Daily Express reported.

The opinion poll, carried out by website labourhome.org, asked: "How much time would you be prepared to give Gordon Brown to begin reversing Labour's fortunes before you would want him to step aside?"

Just 37.6 per cent agreed that he was the best man to lead the party next time they face the voters.

And 17.9 per cent wanted him to step down immediately while 28 per cent were only willing to give him until Labour's annual conference at the end of September.

Yesterday's survey came just days after close allies of Brown admitted that he already knew his time was up and would only contest one election at the most.

The revelation, which was seen as further weakening the Prime Minister's grip on power, means that even if he wins the next election the clock would be ticking on his premiership the moment he walked back into No 10.

The labourhome.org poll also found that the only minister less popular than Brown is Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, tipped as a possible successor to Brown, scored better, with Health Secretary Alan Johnson topping the poll.

Another opinion poll yesterday revealed how little the British public now likes the PM, with Tory support at its highest level since David Cameron became leader three years ago.

The BPIX poll showed Labour trailing the Conservatives by 23 points, with support of 26 per cent compared with 49 per cent for the Tories.

ANI