Leadership change would not save UK's Labour

Swapping Gordon Brown for a new leader would not help Britain's ruling Labour Party win the next general election, an opinion poll showed.

The poll, by ICM in yesterday's Guardian newspaper, coincides with Mr Brown's preparations for re-launching his government after a summer break, amid feverish speculation that Labour parliamentarians are plotting to try to replace him.

Rumours of a potential leadership challenge centre on Foreign Secretary David Miliband but the poll found that Labour would not fare any better under him than under Mr Brown. The next general election is due by mid-2010.

The poll gave the opposition Conservative Party a 15-point lead over Labour. David Cameron's Conservatives scored 44 points, up one from last month, and Labour 29, also up one.

Asked whether Mr Cameron or Mr Brown would make the best Prime Minister, 42 per cent said Mr Cameron versus 21 per cent for Mr Brown. Twenty-three per cent said neither.

Asked to choose between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband for prime minister, 40 per cent said Mr Cameron and 19 per cent Miliband - the same 21 percentage point margin. Eighteen per cent said neither.

The results showed that voters of every age, social class and part of Britain, except Scotland, preferred Mr Cameron to Mr Brown.

Mr Brown's poll ratings and those of the government have been hit by the credit crunch, rising prices, fears of a housing market crash and a series of administrative blunders.

Mr Brown is also suffering from public disillusionment after more than a decade of Labour government.

Britons have registered their dissatisfaction with the government in recent elections for single parliamentary seats, dealing Labour three humiliating defeats in recent months, which have prompted talk of a possible leadership challenge.

Labour Party rules make it extremely difficult to oust a leader and Mr Brown shows no sign of wanting to leave office.