Century XX1 - Devolution In The English Regions: Vision For The Future
A recent MORI poll of Londoners was commissioned by Granada for a TV debate on the future of the English regions following devolution in Scotland and Wales.
When asked what comes to mind when thinking about the North West, the countryside (24%), the Lake District (18%) and the weather / rain (17%) were the three top things mentioned.
The most popular choices given for the North West of England were countryside (38%), friendly people / sense of community (34%) and pleasant environment / nice place to live (11%). However, 19% said that there was nothing good about the North West. When asked what is bad about the North West of England the three top choices were weak economy / unemployment (28%), the weather (15%) and high crime rate (12%), just under a third (31%) said nothing.
In terms of where people live, only 8% said that they have lived in the North West. Only 11% said that if they had the finance and the opportunity to do so that they would invest in the North West. If they had the opportunity to move anywhere in the country, 20% said they would be likely to move to the North West.
Opinions of Liverpool, Manchester and the North West were the same in terms of if they were a success (31%), a failure (29%), neither (26%) and (14%) said that they didn't know.
The following opinions were given of the North West:
| DoesApply | Does NotApply | Don'tKnow | NetDoes | |
| % | % | % | % 177 | |
| It is old fashioned | 35 | 54 | 11 | -19 |
| Drugs are a major problem there | 55 | 25 | 20 | +30 |
| It has a high crime rate | 54 | 27 | 19 | +27 |
| It has an exciting music scene | 62 | 18 | 20 | +44 |
| The people there are friendly | 82 | 5 | 13 | +77 |
| It is a wealthy region | 22 | 56 | 22 | -34 |
| It makes a major contribution to the British economy | 59 | 16 | 25 | +43 |
| Its environment is spoilt by industry and pollution | 57 | 26 | 17 | +31 |
| The workforce is militant and prone to strikes | 30 | 49 | 21 | -19 |
| It has an important coal industry | 22 | 58 | 20 | -26 |
| It is a good place to do business | 52 | 16 | 32 | +36 |
| Its universities are not as good as those in the South | 14 | 58 | 28 | -44 |
| Its schools are not as good as those in the South | 15 | 48 | 37 | -33 |
For more than 600,000 Londoners, the North West contains something close to their hearts - the football team they support. Only Arsenal (17%) and Tottenham (14%) are better supported than both Manchester United and Liverpool - both enjoying the support of 12% of London's football fans.
Technical details: MORI interviewed 500 adults by telephone aged 18+ across London. Fieldwork took place between 31 October - 3 November 1997.
