Cherie tops UK 'eviction' poll

Voters in the "one in, one out" poll wanted to see the prime minister's wife replaced by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

In the poll, listeners were invited to nominate a home-grown "villain" they deemed fit for eviction from the UK.

'OUT' VOTES

They were also asked to nominate a foreign national they wanted to see adopted as an honorary Britain.

Mrs Blair received 31% of the eviction shortlist - the vote began during the fortnight of headlines involving her property dealings with conman Peter Foster.

Tony Blair had previously been removed from the proceedings, after dominating the early nominations for removal with about 50% of the vote.

Nelson Mandela had also been removed after being named by about 50% of voters in early nominations as the foreign national they wanted to adopt.

'IN' VOTE

It was felt the two men would dominate the final, so both were taken out of the competition.

In the "out" category, Cherie Blair was followed by Muslim cleric Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri (25%); Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre (20%); Prince Charles (13%), and jailed author Jeffrey Archer (11%).

Aung San Suu Kyi was the overwhelming winner of the "in" poll with 53% of the vote.

She was followed by former US President Bill Clinton (18%) and current White House incumbent George W Bush (9%).

The Australian cricket team, represented by spin bowler Shane Warne, came next (13%), with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein coming fifth (7%).

About 15,000 votes were received altogether.