Brown Surges 11 Points in Latest Poll

A new poll for the Independent shows that Gordon Brown, Britain's once seemingly doomed prime minister, has surged 11 points as the financial crisis continues. The poll put support for the opposition Tories at 39%, Labour at 31%, and the third-party Liberal Democrats at 16%. Where once the Tories were cruising to victory, an election held today would produce a hung parliament—one where no party commanded a majority.

The poll, in line with others in recent days, confirms that the "Brown bounce" the PM enjoyed after bailing out British banks has been sustained. Earlier this year Labour endured a series of disastrous polls and election defeats that nearly led to Brown's ouster. In 10 days Labour faces yet another special election in Scotland after the death of an MP—a race the party now thinks it has a chance to win.
(More Gordon Brown stories.)