Gordon Brown is less trusted to steer his country through the global financial crisis than any other major western European leader, according to an FT opinion poll, in a blow to his reputation for economic competence.

The prime minister has pinned his political hopes on persuading Britons he can lead the country through a period of turbulence to an economic recovery before an election next year or in 2010.

But a Financial Times/Harris poll suggests Britons no longer trust his government on the economy – 68 per cent of respondents said they were “not confident at all” in its ability to deal with the economic crisis. ... Read full article