Blair - Most Popular

Blair `Most Popular PM' in History - Poll

In another indicator of the new Government's popularity, more people are claiming to have voted for the winning side than is actually possible. According to the Gallup poll 53% of respondents said they had voted Labour - while the actual percentage of those who voted for the Mr Blair on May 1 was 44%.

Gallup found Mr Blair had an 82% approval rating. That is 41 points ahead of Margaret Thatcher in her earliest days as Prime Minister, 16 points ahead of the post-war Labour Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, and 22 points ahead of the last previous Labour leader to win a general election, Harold Wilson.

The Prime Minister's decision to meet Lady Thatcher for talks on international affairs appeared to have been a success. Sixty seven per cent of all voters said it was a good idea. Among Conservative supporters approval was even higher, with 82% backing the meeting, while 70% of Liberal Democrats also approved.