Business On Blair

• MORI conducted 210 interviews with businesses with over 200 employees
• Interviews were conducted by telephone between 9 August and 13 September 2000
• Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated
• Data are weighted to the profile of large (200 plus employees) Uk businesses by size, sector and region
• An '*' indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
• Poll conducted by MORI on behalf of Burson-Marsteller

Q1 Do you think the economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next 12 months?

Q2 Over the next 12 months, do you think that your organisation's business will improve, stay the same, or get worse?

Q3 Thinking about the Government's performance since being elected in 1997, which, if any, business sectors do you think have benefited most from the Government's policies?

Q4 And which, if any, business sectors do you think have benefited least from the Government's policies?

Q5 Thinking about the Government's economic record, what do you think are the two or three best economic decisions the Government has made? Why do you say that?

Q6 And what do you think are the two or three worst economic decisions the Government has made? Why do you say that?

Q6B If the Labour Government were to win the next General Election, what are the three most important things they need to do to support business and the economy during their second term in office?

I am going to read out a number of different aspects of the Government's performance. For each, I would like you to tell me whether you think the Government's performance has been good or bad. READ OUT. RANDOM ORDER. IF GOOD/BAD: Is that very or fairly?

Q7 Controlling inflation

Q8 Economic growth

Q9 Overall tax management

Q10 Supporting e-commerce

Q11 Reducing the burden of regulation

Q12 Promoting Corporate Responsibility

Q13 Protecting the City's position as Europe's leading financial centre

I am going to read out two policies the Government has introduced. For each, I would like you to tell me whether you think the introduction of the policy has been good or bad for Britain? Is that very or fairly?

Q14 Introduction of the Minimum Wage

Q15 Introduction of the New Deal

Q16 Have the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's interventions been good or bad for British business?

Q17 Do you think the recent Comprehensive Spending Review announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer will or will not have an inflationary effect on the economy?

Q18 Do you think it is likely or unlikely that the British Economy will have entered a recession ...

I'd now like to ask you some questions about Europe.

Q19 Thinking now about your own business, which of the following do you think will be best for your company at the present time - joining the euro as soon as possible, joining the euro after the next General Election, or never joining the euro?

Q20 And why do you say that?

Join the euro as soon as possible (56)

	%
Makes business sense/we trade-unions in the EU	37
Remove uncertainty in importing/exporting	34
Would reduce level of pound	23
Make trade-unions easier	11
Remove current uncertainty on UK position	9
Lower inflation	5
Access to bigger market	4
It's inevitable	3
It would be better for Britain's economy	2
Not joining is preventing inward investment	2
Other	8

Join the euro after the next general election (70)

	%
Need time to prepare	44
Wait until exchange rate/economy is right	29
It does not affect us	11
Joining euro is inevitable	8
We need the political will/decisiveness	6
Remove uncertainty in importing/exporting	5
Makes business sense/we trade-unions in the EU	3
Pound is too high/would reduce level of pound	3
Public needs to be educated first	1
Not joining is preventing outside investment	1
Access to bigger market	1
Other	8

Never join the euro (71)

	%
We will not benefit from euro/it will not affect us	35
Loss of political/financial control	26
Better for Britain's economy not to join	15
Loss of independence/sovereignty	12
We import so strong pound is in our favour	8
Unfeasible/unworkable system	7
Increase bureaucracy/legislation	6
Loss of confidence in British business	2
Cost of currency conversion	2
Interest rates would rise	1
Other	12

Q21 Do you think the Government should support or oppose greater tax harmonisation across the EU?

	%
Support	35
Oppose	61
Don't know	4

Q25 What, if any, leadership qualities do you think Tony Blair has shown during his first term as Prime Minister? What else?

	%
Strong leadership	28
Decisiveness	13
Good management	6
Good public speaker	5
Compassion	4
Intelligence	4
Good public image	3
He's been neutral/pragmatic	1
A nice man/sense of humour	1
Supported business	1
Lacks substance	4
Too much control/over-powerful	3
None/no good qualities	39
Other	9
Don't know	3