Tuesday 21 January 2003
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)?
| | 24-25 Sep | 17-20 Jan | |
|---|
| | 2002 | 2003 | Change |
|---|
| | % | % | ±% |
|---|
| Approve | 30 | 19 | -11 |
| Disapprove | 59 | 68 | +9 |
| Don't know | 11 | 13 | +2 |
| |
| Net approve (+%) | -29 | -49 | -20 |
Q Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is handling the current situation with Iraq?
| | 24-25 Sep | 11-13 Oct | 17-20 Jan | |
|---|
| | 2002 | 2002 | 2003 | Change |
|---|
| | % | % | % | ±% |
|---|
| Approve | 40 | 35 | 26 | -14 |
| Disapprove | 49 | 47 | 62 | +13 |
| Don't know | 11 | 18 | 13 | +2 |
| |
| Net approve (+%) | -9 | -12 | -36 | -27 |
Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining any American-led military action against Iraq, with UN approval?
| | 24-25 Sep | 17-20 Jan | |
|---|
| | 2002 | 2003 | Change |
|---|
| | % | % | ±% |
|---|
| Support | 71 | 61 | -10 |
| Oppose | 23 | 29 | +6 |
| Don't know | 6 | 10 | +4 |
| |
| Net support (+%) | +48 | +32 | -16 |
Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining any American-led military action against Iraq, without UN approval?
| | 24-25 Sep | 17-20 Jan | |
|---|
| | 2002 | 2003 | Change |
|---|
| | % | % | ±% |
|---|
| Support | 22 | 15 | -7 |
| Oppose | 70 | 77 | +7 |
| Don't know | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| |
| Net support (+%) | -48 | -62 | -14 |
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.