New British PM gives party biggest poll lead in two years

LONDON (AFP) - New Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party has its biggest opinion poll lead for nearly two years, a survey out Sunday showed, raising the prospect of a snap general election.

And Brown is backed by nearly twice as many people to run Britain than the Conservative main opposition leader David Cameron, said a separate poll.

The surveys showed a significant "Brown bounce" rise in popularity since the former finance minister replaced Tony Blair as premier on June 27.

The poll in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper put Labour on 40 percent compared to 33 percent for the Conservatives and 19 percent for the Liberal Democrats.

Until recently, the Tories had enjoyed regular opinion poll leads under Cameron, who took charge in December 2005. It is only the second time Labour have hit 40 percent in any poll since then and is their biggest lead since September 2005.

Labour's lead is 11 percent among men, one percent among women, and 23 percent among voters aged 18 to 24, the survey said.

Fifty-three percent felt Brown was the best person to lead the country, compared to 27 percent for Cameron in a poll for the News of the World, Britain's biggest-selling newspaper.

Earlier this year, pollsters ICM gave Cameron a five-point lead.

Brown can call a general election any time up to May 2010 at the latest.

The Sunday Telegraph speculated he may wish to capitalise on the "Brown bounce" and call an early vote if Labour's lead holds.

"David Cameron's woeful rating ratchets up the pressure on the Conservative leader," said the News of the World tabloid in its editorial.

"Some will say the new PM is enjoying a honeymoon period with the electors. But there is little doubt that Mr Brown has made a strong and sure-footed start as premier.

"The dilemma for Mr Cameron is that millions of voters do not yet know what his party stands for.

"Top Tories argue if they spell out their policies too soon, Labour will steal or disparage them.

"But electors want clarity and reassurance. A bold leader must come off the fence. A bit like Gordon Brown."

For both polls, ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults by telephone from Wednesday to Friday.