MORI ~ General Election

Latest Political Results for The Independent on Sunday

Survey II results based on 941 interviews conducted face-to-face in home throughout Great Britain on 23-24 April 1997. (Survey I results based on 1,069 interviews conducted 2-3 April 1997). All respondents were interviewed in Survey I and re-interviewed in Survey II. Results published in The Independent on Sunday on 27 April 1997.
Data weighted to known population profile
An asterisk (*) denotes a figure below 0.5%, but not zero.

Q1
How do you intend to vote in the General Election on May 1st? (see below)

Q2 (If undecided or refused at Q1)
Which party are you most inclined to support?

April 2/3 April 23/24

% %

Conservative 30 29

Labour 55 53

Lib Dem 9 12

Scottish/Welsh Nationalist 2 2

Green Party 1 1

Referendum Party 3 3

Other * *

Would not vote 4 3

Undecided 9 6

Refused 2 4

Q3
Survey I and II
Have you definitely decided to vote for (PARTY NAMED AT Q1/2) or is there a chance that you may change your mind before election day?

Survey 1 Survey 2

% %

Definitely decided 67 85

May change mind 31 14

Other 1 1

Don't know 1 *

Q4
Which of the following comes closest to your reasons for voting for the (PARTY NAMED AT Q1/2)?

Survey 1 Survey 2

% %

It is the party that most represents your views 82 86

The party you support has little chance of winning in this constituency so you vote for the (PARTY NAMED AT Q1/2) party to try and keep another party out 11 10

No opinion 7 4

Q5
A lot of people aren't sure whether they'll vote at the General Election.
Can you tell me how likely you are to get along to vote at the General Election?

Survey 1 Survey 2

% %

Certain to vote 65 75

Very likely to vote 14 10

Quite likely to vote 13 6

Not very likely to vote 4 3

Certain not to vote 3 3

Don't know 1 2

Q6
SURVEY II ONLY
How interested would you say you were in the news about the election?

%
Very interested 16
Fairly interested 42
Not particularly interested 27
Not at all interested 14
No opinion 1

Q7
How do you feel about the amount of coverage the newspapers have been giving to the election campaign?
And how do you feel about the amount of coverage given to the election campaign on television?
And how do you feel about the amount of coverage given to the election on the radio?

Newspapers Television Radio

% % %

Much too much 20 29 8

A little too much 21 24 4

About the right amount 41 37 33

A little too little 2 1 3

Much too little * 1 1

No opinion 16 8 51

Q8
If you thought the Liberal Democrats could win the General Election and form the next government, what effect, if any, would it have on your vote?

%

It would not change my vote 60

It would make me more inclined to vote Conservative 3

It would make me more inclined to vote Labour 5

It would make me more inclined to vote Liberal Democrat 23

It would make me less inclined to vote for any party 2

Other 1

Don't know 6

Q9
Thinking about BBC television coverage, do you think this is biased towards the Conservatives' point of view, Labour's point of view, or some other party's point of view, or do you feel their coverage is unbiased?

And thinking about Independent Television coverage, that is ITV and Channel 4, do you think it is biased towards the Conservatives' point of view, or towards Labour's point of view, or some other party's point of view, or do you feel their coverage is unbiased?

BBC ITV / Channel 4

% %

Biased to Conservative 12 5

Biased to Labour 8 6

Biased to some other party 1 1

Unbiased 54 54

Don't know 25 35

Q11
Over the past 5 years, do you think this government has or has not ...?

Has Has not Don't know

% % %

Kept its promises 15 74 11

Played important role in world affairs 54 33 13

Kept inflation down 58 30 12

Reduced unemployment 31 60 9

Cut income tax 42 42 16

Put up taxes on goods you buy 78 14 8

Improved law & order 16 73 11

Helped improve your living standards 23 69 8

Improved standards in public life 18 67 15

Improved standard of education 16 70 14

Q12
On balance, do you support or oppose each of the following?

Support Oppose Don't know

% % %

Making political parties publish the identity of those who make large financial donations 71 17 12

Changing Britain's current electoral system to a system of proportional representation 45 28 27

Fixing the length of Parliament, so removing the power of Government to choose the date of an election 51 28 21

Replacing the House of Lords with an elected second chamber 44 29 27

Q13
During the past few weeks have you...?
IF YES ASK: Which party was that?

Con Lab Lib Dem Scot Welsh Nats Ref'm Party Other Yes but DK which party No not seen any DK

% % % % % % % % %

Seen any party election broadcasts on TV 59 59 50 9 17 14 3 26 1

Heard any party election broadcasts on the radio 10 10 8 1 2 2 2 79 6

Seen any political advertisements on billboards 53 55 16 3 7 2 4 28 2

Had any political leaflets put through your letterbox 66 75 55 9 30 13 3 9 2

Been called on by a representative of any political party 11 12 5 1 1 1 * 74 1

Been telephoned by a representative of any political party 2 5 * - * * * 92 1

Attended a political meeting addressed by a candidate 1 1 * - * * * 97 1

Helped a political party in its campaign 1 2 * - 1 - * 95 1

Received a letter signed by a party leader individually addressed to you 10 9 3 1 * * 1 77 3

Watched the leaders debate on TV 30 30 23 4 2 1 2 62 2

Received a video through your letterbox from a political party * 1 1 * 22 * 2 72 1

Q14
And which of these items, if any, have influenced the way you intend to vote?

%

Posters on billboards 4

Political leaflets put through letterbox 6

Telephone calls from political parties -

The views of your local candidates 9

Party election broadcasts 12

Opinion polls 2

Video received from political party 2

The television debate between the party leaders 10

Newspapers 10

Other 4

None of these 61

Don't know 3

Political Attitudes in Great Britain

Technical Note
These are the findings of a poll conducted by Market & Opinion Research International (MORI) on behalf of The Independent on Sunday Newspaper.

Survey II results based on 941 interviews conducted face-to-face in home throughout Great Britain on 23-24 April 1997.
(Survey I results based on 1,069 interviews conducted 2-3 April 1997).
All respondents were interviewed in Survey I and re-interviewed in Survey II

As with all our studies, any press release or publication of the findings requires the advance approval of MORI. Such approval will only be refused on the grounds of inaccuracy or misinterpretation.

Source: MORI (Market & Opinion Research International Ltd.)

	April 2/3	April 23/24
	%	%
Conservative	30	29
Labour	55	53
Lib Dem	9	12
Scottish/Welsh Nationalist	2	2
Green Party	1	1
Referendum Party	3	3
Other	*	*
Would not vote	4	3
Undecided	9	6
Refused	2	4

	Survey 1	Survey 2
	%	%
Definitely decided	67	85
May change mind	31	14
Other	1	1
Don't know	1	*

	Survey 1	Survey 2
	%	%
It is the party that most represents your views	82	86
The party you support has little chance of winning in this constituency so you vote for the (PARTY NAMED AT Q1/2) party to try and keep another party out	11	10
No opinion	7	4

	Survey 1	Survey 2
	%	%
Certain to vote	65	75
Very likely to vote	14	10
Quite likely to vote	13	6
Not very likely to vote	4	3
Certain not to vote	3	3
Don't know	1	2

	%
Very interested	16
Fairly interested	42
Not particularly interested	27
Not at all interested	14
No opinion	1

	Newspapers	Television	Radio
	%	%	%
Much too much	20	29	8
A little too much	21	24	4
About the right amount	41	37	33
A little too little	2	1	3
Much too little	*	1	1
No opinion	16	8	51

	%
It would not change my vote	60
It would make me more inclined to vote Conservative	3
It would make me more inclined to vote Labour	5
It would make me more inclined to vote Liberal Democrat	23
It would make me less inclined to vote for any party	2
Other	1
Don't know	6

	BBC	ITV / Channel 4
	%	%
Biased to Conservative	12	5
Biased to Labour	8	6
Biased to some other party	1	1
Unbiased	54	54
Don't know	25	35

	Has	Has not	Don't know
	%	%	%
Kept its promises	15	74	11
Played important role in world affairs	54	33	13
Kept inflation down	58	30	12
Reduced unemployment	31	60	9
Cut income tax	42	42	16
Put up taxes on goods you buy	78	14	8
Improved law & order	16	73	11
Helped improve your living standards	23	69	8
Improved standards in public life	18	67	15
Improved standard of education	16	70	14

	Support	Oppose	Don't know
	%	%	%
Making political parties publish the identity of those who make large financial donations	71	17	12
Changing Britain's current electoral system to a system of proportional representation	45	28	27
Fixing the length of Parliament, so removing the power of Government to choose the date of an election	51	28	21
Replacing the House of Lords with an elected second chamber	44	29	27

	Con	Lab	Lib Dem	Scot Welsh Nats	Ref'm Party	Other	Yes but DK which party	No not seen any	DK
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
Seen any party election broadcasts on TV	59	59	50	9	17	14	3	26	1
Heard any party election broadcasts on the radio	10	10	8	1	2	2	2	79	6
Seen any political advertisements on billboards	53	55	16	3	7	2	4	28	2
Had any political leaflets put through your letterbox	66	75	55	9	30	13	3	9	2
Been called on by a representative of any political party	11	12	5	1	1	1	*	74	1
Been telephoned by a representative of any political party	2	5	*	-	*	*	*	92	1
Attended a political meeting addressed by a candidate	1	1	*	-	*	*	*	97	1
Helped a political party in its campaign	1	2	*	-	1	-	*	95	1
Received a letter signed by a party leader individually addressed to you	10	9	3	1	*	*	1	77	3
Watched the leaders debate on TV	30	30	23	4	2	1	2	62	2
Received a video through your letterbox from a political party	*	1	1	*	22	*	2	72	1

	%
Posters on billboards	4
Political leaflets put through letterbox	6
Telephone calls from political parties	-
The views of your local candidates	9
Party election broadcasts	12
Opinion polls	2
Video received from political party	2
The television debate between the party leaders	10
Newspapers	10
Other	4
None of these	61
Don't know	3