US views of Britain take negative turn

Published on Wednesday 2 April 2008 22:19

AMERICANS view Britain much more negatively than they did a year ago, a survey has found.

The poll, by the BBC World Service, found positive views of Britain had slipped considerably in the United States, down to 45 per cent from 67 per cent a year ago, while negative views had increased significantly, up to 42 per cent from 18 per cent.

But the overall view of Britain's influence around the world has increased, with positive views rising from 46 per cent to 50 per cent.

No reasons for the change in attitudes were given, but the last year has seen British troops pull out of Basra, a perceived weakening of the close ties between the two countries and a change of leadership in Downing Street – events which were all followed closely by the US media.

The survey also found that Britons had a more negative view of the US than the rest of the world.

Globally, 47 per cent of those surveyed had mainly negative views of the US, but in Britain the figure was 53 per cent. Overall, the poll found the world's view of the US was improving for the first time in four years.

It showed 35 per cent of those surveyed across the globe said the US had a positive influence, up from 31 per cent last year.

Steven Kull, the director of the Programme on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland, which helped do the study, said the improved rating of the US could be linked to the forthcoming presidential election.

"It may be that as the US approaches a new presidential election, views of the US are being mitigated by hope that a new administration will move away from the foreign policies that have been so unpopular in the world," he said.

&#149 The survey was carried out by the international polling firm GlobeScan with the PIPA. More than 17,000 people in 34 countries were surveyed.