WORLD IN BRIEF : BRITAIN : Thatcher Popularity Plunges in 2 Polls

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s popularity sank to the lowest level of her 10 years in power in two new polls. Only 24% of 935 voters sampled in a National Opinion Poll said they were satisfied with her performance, and 61% blamed her for last Thursday’s sudden resignation of Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson. Thatcher is lukewarm toward fully joining the European Monetary System, while Lawson supports it. A Harris poll found 50% of the respondents in favor of the opposition Labor Party and only 37% backing Thatcher’s Conservative Party, with the others favoring minor parties.