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Labour the new “nasty” party

LONDON: For more than a decade, the embarrassing distinction of being Britain’s most “nasty” mainstream political party — sleazy, incompetent, xenophobic and divided — belonged to the Tories.

But, now, it seems they have competition with Labour on the brink of emerging as the “new nasty party”, according to a new poll which shows that a majority of Britons see it as “more divided, backward-looking, untrustworthy and sleazy than the Conservatives”.

The poll, in the pro-Labour Observer newspaper, reveals a nationwide urge for change with most Britons inclined to vote against Labour at the next election in 2009/2010.

The findings are seen as a further blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown who is under growing pressure to make way for a younger and more charismatic leader as Labour’s rating continue to plunge under his leadership.

Mr. Brown’s attempt to “relaunch” the party through a series of eye-catching legislative measures has failed to impress the voters with a whopping 52 per cent saying they would prefer a Tory government. Only 31 per cent favour Labour.

Mr. Brown’s own ratings have fallen to an embarrassing new low with 75 per cent of the voters saying he is “doing a bad job”. Of these 46 per cent said he was doing a “very bad job”.

“Just one in five voters thinks he is doing a good job,” said the newspaper.

Commentators said the findings were likely to make Mr. Brown more vulnerable They may also intensify the power struggle within the party.

Mr. Brown, whose Cabinet is dominated by fellow-Scots, was reported to be under pressure to promote “English voices” who could appeal to English voters.

The Sunday Times reported that he was facing calls for him to “axe the so-called Scots mafia” and to give “key jobs to Ministers who can reach out to middle-class voters in England’s marginal seats”.

Difficult days are predicted for Mr. Brown as Parliament returns to work this week after a recess.

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