Attitudes Towards Gordon Brown, Foot And Mouth And The EU
Ipsos's latest poll for the Sun (conducted on the telephone from 8-9 August) indicates that the 'Brown bounce' continues, with Labour leading over the Conservatives on voting intention among those who say they are 'certain to vote'. Brown is seen to outstrip both Cameron and Campbell in being seen as trustworthy, as well as being perceived as 'better in a crisis' and 'better at understanding the problems facing Britain'.
Most people feel the Government is handling the Foot and Mouth outbreak well, and this attitude now is far more favourable than it was during the outbreak in 2001.
The survey also included some questions on the issue of the EU Constitution. Over half of the British public are against Britain adopting the EU Constitution Treaty, with just under two in five in favour. However, many people's minds are not made up; half say they could be persuaded to change their mind. Most people think that the decision about whether Britain should adopt the EU Treaty should be decided in a Referendum of the British public, rather than in Parliament.
Topline Results
- Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,010 adults in Great Britain aged 18+.
- Interviews were conducted by telephone between 8th and 9th August 2007.
- Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.
- Download the data tabulations pdf, 140KB
Voting — all absolutely certain to vote
Q1a How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?
(If undecided or refused at Q1)
Q2a Which party are you most inclined to support?
Base: All 'absolutely certain to vote' (531)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 33 |
| Labour | 38 |
| Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem) | 15 |
| Scottish/Welsh Nationalist | 2 |
| Green Party | 3 |
| UK Independence Party | 2 |
| Other | 7 |
| Lab lead (±%) | +5 |
| Would not vote | * |
| Undecided | 6 |
| Refused | 4 |
Voting — all
Q1b How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?
(If undecided or refused at Q1)
Q2b Which party are you most inclined to support?
Base: All naming a party (1,010)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Conservative | 29 |
| Labour | 42 |
| Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem) | 16 |
| Scottish/Welsh Nationalist | 2 |
| Green Party | 4 |
| UK Independence Party | 2 |
| Other | 5 |
| Lab lead (±%) | +13 |
| Would not vote | 10 |
| Undecided | 6 |
| Refused | 3 |
Q1-3 In general would you describe each of the following politicians as trustworthy or not?
| Trustworthy | Not trustworthy | Don't know | Net trustworthy | Net change Jun-Aug 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | ||
| Gordon Brown | 54 | 37 | 9 | +17 | +29 |
| June 2007 | 37 | 49 | 14 | -12 | |
| David Cameron | 36 | 50 | 14 | -14 | -2 |
| June 2007 | 34 | 46 | 21 | -12 | |
| Menzies Campbell | 41 | 34 | 25 | +7 | +6 |
| June 2007 | 34 | 33 | 33 | +1 |
Q4 In general, would you say you are more or less likely to vote Labour at the next election, now that Gordon Brown has replaced Tony Blair as Prime Minister?
| % | |
|---|---|
| More likely to vote Labour | 37 |
| Less likely to vote Labour | 17 |
| No change | 23 |
| I would not vote Labour in any case | 20 |
| Don't know | 3 |
Q5 Which leader do you think best understands the problems facing Britain — Gordon Brown, David Cameron or Menzies Campbell?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Gordon Brown | 51 |
| David Cameron | 17 |
| Menzies Campbell | 8 |
| Don't know | 24 |
Q6 Which leader do you think has the most personality — Gordon Brown, David Cameron or Menzies Campbell?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Gordon Brown | 31 |
| David Cameron | 42 |
| Menzies Campbell | 9 |
| Don't know | 17 |
Q7 Which leader do you think would be best in a crisis — Gordon Brown, David Cameron or Menzies Campbell?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Gordon Brown | 69 |
| David Cameron | 10 |
| Menzies Campbell | 6 |
| Don't know | 14 |
Q8 Overall, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the Government is handling the Foot and Mouth outbreak?
| March 2001 | August 2007 | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| Very satisfied | 21 | |
| Fairly satisfied | 51 | |
| Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 6 | |
| Fairly dissatisfied | 8 | |
| Very dissatisfied | 7 | |
| Don't know | 7 | |
| Total satisfied | 35 | 72 |
| Total dissatisfied | 52 | 15 |
| Net satisfied | -17 | +57 |
Q9 Overall, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, is handling the issue of standards in schools?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Very satisfied | 9 |
| Fairly satisfied | 35 |
| Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied | 12 |
| Fairly dissatisfied | 13 |
| Very dissatisfied | 14 |
| Don't know | 16 |
| Satisfied | 44 |
| Dissatisfied | 27 |
| Net Satisfied | +17 |
Q10 Who would you rather go to the pub for a drink with — David Cameron or Gordon Brown?
| June 2007 | August 2007 | |
|---|---|---|
| % | % | |
| David Cameron | 38 | 40 |
| Gordon Brown | 37 | 43 |
| Don't know | 25 | 17 |
Q11 Do you think that it would be better to allow Parliament to decide whether or not Britain should sign the EU Constitutional Treaty, or should it be put to the British public to decide in a Referendum?
| % | |
|---|---|
| Strongly think that Parliament should decide | 10 |
| Tend to think that Parliament should decide | 7 |
| Tend to think that it should be decided in a Referendum of the British people | 15 |
| Strongly think that it should be decided in a Referendum of the British people | 66 |
| Don't know | 2 |
| Total Parliament should decide | 17 |
| Total referendum of British people | 81 |
Q12 Which of the statements I am going to read out best reflects your view of how you would vote if there were a Referendum on whether Britain should or should not adopt the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty:
| % | |
|---|---|
| I am strongly against Britain adopting the EU Constitutional Treaty, would certainly vote against it in a Referendum, and my mind is made up | 31 |
| I am slightly against Britain adopting the EU Constitutional Treaty, and would tend to vote against it in a Referendum, but I could be persuaded to change my mind | 24 |
| I am slightly in favour of Britain adopting the EU Constitutional Treaty, and would tend to vote for it in a Referendum, but I could be persuaded to change my mind | 27 |
| I am strongly for Britain adopting the EU Constitutional Treaty, would certainly vote for it in a Referendum, and my mind is made up | 10 |
| Don't know | 7 |
| Total against | 55 |
| Total in favour | 37 |
| Total mind made up | 41 |
| Total could be persuaded to change mind | 51 |
