More of the public are worrying about the possibility of nuclear war than at any time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, according to the latest MORI Political Monitor. Almost one in ten, 9%, of the public interviewed - in the survey conducted the weekend before last, just at the start of the Conference season - names nuclear war, nuclear weapons or disarmament as one of the most important issues facing the country; the last time the figure reached even 5% was in April 1990. Taken with the rise in concern about "defence/foreign affairs", named by 23% of the public as "single most important issue" (top of the list) and by 34% as one of the most important issues (second place, behind the NHS), it is plain that the continuing Iraq crisis is high on the public agenda.
A majority of people say they would welcome a speed warning device on their car dashboard as a way to improve road safety, according to research by MORI. The survey, commissioned by the FIA Foundation shows seven in 10 (70%) people would support an audible in-car warning or a dashboard display that alerts them to the legal speed limit on residential roads and on trunk roads in built-up areas.
The public remains committed to the principle that any military action against Iraq should only be taken if backed by the United Nations, according to research by the MORI Social Research Institute.
Pulse Check
Pulse Check delivers key insights from Ipsos' Political Monitor, Political Pulse, and Public Services data, along with reactive polling, to help you navigate the evolving political landscape.
In-house PROs are a more useful source of information to business and financial journalists than PR agencies, according to MORI's latest 'Key Audience Research' survey. This contrasts markedly with last year's findings, when business journalists found PR agencies most useful overall.
Only one in three people in Britain (37%) feel cultural events are designed with them in mind, according to a survey by MORI. The project was commission by Cardiff 2008, the team leading the city's bid to be the European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Attitudes among shareholders in the UK remains buoyant, with three in every four investors (76%) committed to investing in shares in the long term. Research by MORI among UK private investors was for the ProShare 'Private Share Ownership in Britain 2002' survey, sponsored by Computershare.
A quarter (27%) of those who marched through London on the 'Life and Liberty' march this weekend believe fox hunting should be the main priority for the Countryside Alliance. The MORI Social Research Institute survey, commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare and League Against Cruel Sports, was carried out along the march route.
Research by MORI Financial Services (MFS) on attitudes in the UK towards joining the European Monetary Union (EMU) has shown little change over the past five years.
This weekend's march - organised by the Countryside Alliance - is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of London - many campaigning (one way or another) for more money for the UK's rural areas.
