War Support Continues
MORI's latest survey, undertaken March 28-31, found only a bare plurality approving of the way the prime minister is handling the current situation with Iraq, 47 per cent approve and 44 per cent disapprove -- or a net plus three.
By contrast, the latest Pew research in the USA found that 69 per cent of Americans approve of the way the George W. Bush is handling the war and 23 per cent disapprove, a net plus 46.
However, a majority of the British, 56 per cent, support Britain taking part in the military action against Iraq and 38 per cent oppose it, according to the MORI telephone poll of 969 British adults.
A new online poll by YouGov found 68 per cent of British people thought Tony Blair's handling of the war had been excellent or good.
Of those questioned on April 3-4, 28 per cent said his handling had been poor or very poor.
The poll, for ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby programme on Sunday, showed 55 per cent of those surveyed said the US and UK were right to have taken military action against Iraq, with 38 per cent saying they were wrong.
ICM, in the Daily Mirror on Friday, asked on April 1 "Now that the war is two weeks old, do you think we were right or wrong to start it?".
It found 48 per cent said "right" and 38 per cent "wrong", with men nearly two to one saying "right" (58 per cent to 32 per cent).
Some 43 per cent of women said "wrong" -- and just 39 per cent "right".
Young people are split equally over whether Britain was right or wrong to "start" the war, 42 per cent taking each side.
Among the next age cohort, however, the 25-34s, 57 per cent said "right" and only a third, 34 per cent said "wrong".
"Young people are split equally over whether Britain was right or wrong to 'start' the war"
Now that the war is underway, there is overwhelming support here for leaving the British forces there to do the job they were sent to do.
Asked 'When do you think you would consider it right to bring British forces home from Iraq, only 16 per cent say "now". Three in four -- 77 per cent -- say "when the war is over, no matter how long it takes".
The latest YouGov internet survey for the Daily Telegraph published on Friday also shows steady support for the US and Britain taking military action against Iraq.
The fieldwork, last Wednesday and Thursday, found 55 per cent saying "right" and 38 per cent "wrong" -- a net plus 17, compared to plus 14 on April 1, plus March 16 on 30, and plus 24 on March 27 just after the troops went in.
Nearly eight in 10 of those taking part over the internet said they thought the war was going well from the British and American forces point of view, but 73 per cent said they are "worried" about the war and its possible consequences.
Of those who said they were "worried", three in four identified either more terrorist attacks on Western targets (74 per cent) and terrorist attacks in this country (72 per cent).
In the USA, public support for the war remains steady.
A new poll by the respected Pew organisation released on Thursday from fieldwork March 28 -- April 1, has 71 per cent of Americans approving of the way the American President, George W. Bush, is handling his job as President, and 69 per cent approving of the way he is dealing with the war in Iraq.
Four in 10 Americans -- 44 per cent -- say they are worried that themselves or someone in their family might become a victim of a terrorist attack, and eight in 10 say they are worried "a great deal" (39 per cent) or "a fair amount" (43 per cent) that terrorists might strike within the US.
Sir Robert Worcester is Chairman of MORI
