General Election 2001 - Election Digest
Latest Independent/Rasmussen findings Asian business people's political attitudes Scottish Issues, and Leader popularity levels
Latest Independent/Rasmussen findings
The latest Rasmussen survey for the Independent puts Labour support at 44% (down 2% on last week), the Tories on 32% (up 1%) and the Liberal Democrats on 16% (up 3%).
Four in five voters believe that NHS-run hospitals is the best way of providing hospital services, compared to just one in five (19%) who believe superior hospital services is best provided by private company-run hospitals. These figures are based on the assumption that in either case the NHS would cover the costs of care.
More of the public (44%) trust Tony Blair to tell the truth about the single European currency than trust William Hague (35%); more believe that taxes will rise under the Tories than under Labour (exact figures not given), and on asylum half believe that the Tories would not be able to keep their promise to reduce the number of asylum seekers if they got into power; "little over a quarter" believe they could.
Asked their impressions of the three main party leaders' campaigns so far, Charles Kennedy has impressed most respondents, with around 30% (no exact figures given) stating an improved impression, followed by 22% for Tony Blair, and 17% for William Hague. However, for 34% of voters, views of Tony Blair have gone down, compared to 32% for William Hague and approximately 12% (no exact figure given) for Charles Kennedy.
The Rasmussen Research poll uses a methodology of computer-automated responses which has not been previously used in polling British elections.
Source: The Independent, 25 May 2001. Technical details: Rasmussen Research conducted 1,231 computer automated telephone interviews with adults aged 18+ on 19-20 May and 1,931 interviews on 21-22 May.
Asian business people's political attitudes
Only 7% of Asian business people have confidence in William Hague, and less than a quarter, 23%, think that the Tories are committed to not playing the "race card", according to an Asian Marketing Group survey.
Asked about the speech made by William Hague in which he referred to Britain becoming a "foreign land" if Labour stayed in power, two thirds thought the wording "clumsy" and 21% believed it was "racist".
Of the Tory supporters among them, only 32% had confidence that William Hague would deal with issues important to them.
Source: The Daily Telegraph 25 May 2001. Technical details: none reported.
Scottish Issues, and Leader popularity levels
System Three's survey of 3,000 Scottish voters shows health as the most important issue (chosen by 71%), followed by education (54%), jobs and law and order (both 40%), and the economy and taxation (28% and 27% respectively). European issues and the single currency, and immigration and asylum seekers are seen as far less of a priority, chosen by 8% and 7% of voters respectively.
Of the four main party leaders in Scotland, William Hague is by far the least popular, with a popularity rating of -42 points (percentage liking him minus those disliking him). Charles Kennedy scores +33 on this measure, followed by Tony Blair on +31 and John Swinney on +11.
Source: The Herald, 24 May 2001. Technical details: System Three interviewed 3,000 Scottish adults across Scotland. Fieldwork dates/ Interview mode: not stated.
