Blair Losing Public Support On Iraq

The British are becoming less enthusiastic about the idea of a war with Iraq, according to fresh research from the MORI Social Research Institute.

Three in five people (61%) would support Britain joining any American-led military action against Iraq, with UN approval -- down from 71% in September. Most (77%) would oppose such action if it did not have UN approval -- up from 70% in September.

Both George W. Bush and Tony Blair are facing a loss of public confidence in the way they are handling the situation with Iraq. Two thirds (68%) of Britons say they disapprove of the way Bush is handling the current situation with Iraq, up from 59% who said they disapproved in September.

Blair, meanwhile, has three in five British people (62%) saying they disapprove of the way he is handling the current situation with Iraq -- an increase from the 47% who said they disapproved in research MORI conducted in October.

Q Do you approve or disapprove of the way the President of America, George W. Bush, is handling the current situation with Iraq (the country ruled by Saddam Hussein)?

Q Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is handling the current situation with Iraq?

Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining any American-led military action against Iraq, with UN approval?

Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining any American-led military action against Iraq, without UN approval?

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative sample of 955 British adults aged 18+ on the MORI Telephone Omnibus. Interviews were carried out throughout Great Britain on 17-20 January 2003. Data are weighted to the known population profile.