“Macmillan’s Popularity At Its Lowest Ebb”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 11

“Macmillan’s Popularity At Its Lowest Ebb”

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON. May 18. The personal popularity of the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) in Britain has sunk to its lowest level in the last three years, the “Daily Mail” said today. He had never had it so bad since he became Prime Minister, the “Daily Mail” said. The newspaper said the latest national opinion polls revealed that, tor the first time since the General Election, none of the Government’s policies had the support of the majority of the people. The polls, generally accepted as the most reliable guide to British opinion, recorded that only 57.4 per cent, of the population was satisfied with Mr Macmillan as Prime Minister. This was in comparison with his peak popularity last July of 72 per cent., and his General Election figure of 88 per cent

However, the survey disclosed that the Conservative Party’s popularity had moved slightly from 38.6 per cent at the General Election to 39 per cent The “Daily Mail” said another unpleasant surprise for the Government was the big rise in the popularity of the Labour Party, whose stocks had fallen to 31 per cent only five weeks ago. The polls revealed that 37 3 per cent of voters would now vote for the Labour Party. Every Government policy from taxation to whether Britain would join the European Common Market was unnopular, according to the polls The uncertainty of the Common Market move and the two recent spy cases, plus the Wedgwood Benn case, had created an “impression of muddle and mishandling.” However, it was unlikely that the effects of these cases would be long lasting, the (“Daily Mail” said.