General Election 2001 : Manifestly "A Waste Of Time"
The public is considerable less interested in the parties' election manifestos at this election than in 1997, figures from a previously unpublished MORI survey conducted just over a week ago, reveal.
In 1997 more than half the public said that they were at least fairly likely to read or look at some of the manifestos; this year, fewer than two in five thought it likely they would do so. Similarly, fewer than in 1997 said they thought it was important that everybody should read the manifestos, and fewer were interested in hearing about the manifestos from the media; more than a quarter now think that they are "a waste of time".
Q How likely or unlikely are you to read or look at any of the party political manifestos in this election campaign?
| 160 | 2-3 Apr | 17-22 May |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | 1997 | 2001 |
| 160 | % | % |
| Very likely | 21 | 16 |
| Fairly likely | 32 | 23 |
| Not very likely | 22 | 23 |
| Not at all likely | 25 | 35 |
| Don't know | * | 3 |
| 160 | ||
| Very/fairly likely | 53 | 39 |
| Not very/not at all likely | 47 | 58 |
| Net likely | +6 | -19 |
Q Which of these statements best describes your attitude to the party election manifestos?
| 160 | 2-3 Apr | 17-22 May |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | 1997 | 2001 |
| 160 | % | % |
| They are important for everybody to read | 36 | 30 |
| I wouldn't read them but I would hope to hear about them in the media | 46 | 37 |
| I think they are a waste of time and I wouldn't pay any attention to them | 14 | 26 |
| None of these | 2 | 3 |
| Don't know | 2 | 4 |
The attitudes of different groups of the population generally follow predictable patterns. It is those groups who on almost every measure from other polls are most interested in politics who are also most likely to be interested in the manifestos, though arguably they are the part of the population least in need of the information. Half of ABs, 51%, are likely to read or look at the manifestos but only 33% of DEs; almost half, 48%, of those aged 65+ are likely to do so, but only 30% of 18-24 year olds.
By newspaper readership, 54% of regular readers of the broadsheet dailies, 49% of mid-market (Mail and Express) readers and 37% of red-top tabloid readers are very or fairly likely to look at the manifestos. Interestingly, on the second question the distinctions are a little narrower. Among broadsheet readers, 37% think the manifestos are important for everyone to read, the same figure as for the mid-market papers; but 28% of red-top readers think the same. Meanwhile, 35% of mid-market readers and 35% of red-top readers say they hope to hear about the manifestos in the media, as do 44% of broadsheet readers.
