Thaindian News

London, Feb 23 (IANS) Britain could see its first hung parliament in more than a quarter of a century, a British newspaper predicted Tuesday after the ratings for the country’s main party in opposition slid three points.
The latest monthly Guardian/ICM poll suggested support for the opposition Conservative Party declined to its lowest for nearly two years, leaving Britain facing the prospects of a hung parliament at the coming general election due by June 3.

Electors in Britain rarely return hung parliaments - the last such was in 1974 and the one before that in 1929.

The survey, which showed a slim seven-point lead for the Conservatives, will come as welcome news to Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, smarting under recent claims that he bullies staff.

According to the poll, Conservative support has fallen to 37 percent, down three points on last month’s Guardian/ICM poll and identical to the ICM ratings of February 2008.

Labour support stayed static at 30 percent, as the opposition lost ground on key policy issues, including the economy.

The opinion poll results will buttress the claims of the Liberal Democratic Party - the second largest in opposition - that it is set to play the role of kingmaker after the elections.

The poll put the Liberal Democrats on 20 percent - down one point on last month’s Guardian poll - suggesting Labour and the Lib Dems are holding steady, while the Tories are losing ground to smaller parties.