Attitudes Towards Sleaze

Ipsos's latest survey for The Sun, conducted 9th -- 11th February by telephone, shows an increase from 2001 in the proportion of the population thinking the current Labour government is 'more sleazy' than the previous Conservative government under John Major. A quarter of the population (24%) now believe Labour is more sleazy, compared to 12% in January 2001. One in seven (14%) think the current Labour government is less sleazy than Major's government was, a figure which has halved since 2001 (30%). Half of the public (50%) do not believe there is any difference between the two Governments.

When asked whether they believe there would be less sleaze in a Labour government led by Gordon Brown or a Conservative government led by David Cameron, more than half (54%) of the public said that there would be no difference. Mr Brown came out very slightly ahead of Mr Cameron in terms of being 'less sleazy' (17% vs 15%), but neither figure is a vote of real confidence; a similar proportion (15%) of the public said they 'don't know' which government would be less sleazy.

Attitudes Towards Sleaze trends

Topline Results

• Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 968 adults in Great Britain aged 18+.
• Interviews were conducted by telephone between 9-11 February 2007.
• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.
• Full data tabulations (weighted and unweighted) are available upon request.

Q1 The previous Conservative Government under John Major was accused of sleaze.

Do you think the current Labour Government is more or less sleazy than the previous Conservative Government, or is there no difference between the two?

Q2 Do you think there would be less sleaze in a Labour government led by Gordon Brown or a Conservative government led by David Cameron, or would there be no difference between the two?