(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-24 21:41

LONDON -- A new poll shows on Saturday that the support rate for Britain's ruling Labour party has dropped to the rock bottom level it witnessed during the dying months of Tony Blair's government.

The Guardian/ICM survey conducted among over 1,000 adults found Labor's rating plummeted to 31 percent following the Northern Rock fiasco and the missing of child benefit records, with many questioning on the competence of Gordon Brown's government.

However, the main opposition Conservatives didn't fare well either with a support rating of 37 percent as they fail to take advantage of the crisis.

The support rate for the Liberal Democrats are up three points to 23 percent despite having only an interim leader.

According to the Guardian report, the new poll results mirror almost exactly the situation in April when Blair was drifting towards the exit from No 10, with a 30-percent voting, seven points behind the Tories.

Labour witnessed a seven-point gain when Gordon Brown took over and hit 40 percent mark in September after a well-managed start when the prime minister was considering a snap autumn election.

The government's reputation for economic competence has been threatened by it lending 23 billion pounds (some 46 billion U.S. dollars) to shore up Northern Rock with no guarantee the loan will be repaid.