Genetically Modified Food On Scottish Election Agenda

As election day draws near, results of a MORI Scotland poll released today (26th April 1999), reveal that the Scottish public hold strong views on the issue of genetically modified (GM) food and could even affect their vote in May.

The poll, commissioned by Greenpeace, shows that 59% of those interviewed believe that the Scottish Parliament should ban the production and sale of food containing GM ingredients in Scotland and 69% think it should increase financial support for organic farming as an alternative to GM food. 44% of Scottish people even said that they would be more likely to vote for a candidate that campaigns for a ban on generically modified food in Scotland.

Greenpeace political campaigner, Sarah Burton, said: "most Scottish people clearly want GM food banned and would prefer to eat healthy, locally grown, organic produce. These results clearly indicate that Scottish candidates cannot sweep the GM food issue into the corner of their electoral pledges. It is firmly on the political agenda whether they like, it or not"

Award winning Scottish food writer and author, Joanna Blythman, added "our agricultural future sits on a cross road. Either we choose to allow it to continue on the road of industrial farming and GM food or we stand up and fight for food that has not been tampered with. We cannot have both. I, for one, will use my vote say 'no' to GM food and to push the issue into the heart of the Scottish Parliament."

Q To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Is that strongly or tend to agree/disagree?

a). The Scottish Parliament should ban the production and sale of food containing Genetically Modified material in Scotland.

Strongly agree	36
Tend to agree	23
Neither agree nor disagree	9
Tend to disagree	20
Strongly disagree	8
Don't know	4

b). I would be more likely to vote for a candidate in the May election if they campaign for a ban on Genetically Modified food in Scotland.

Strongly agree	23
Tend to agree	21
Neither agree nor disagree	11
Tend to disagree	28
Strongly disagree	10
Don't know	7

c). I personally would be happy to eat genetically modified food.

Strongly agree	8
Tend to agree	23
Neither agree nor disagree	7
Tend to disagree	18
Strongly disagree	39
Don't know	5

d). The Scottish Parliament should increase financial support for organic farming.

Strongly agree	33
Tend to agree	36
Neither agree nor disagree	7
Tend to disagree	12
Strongly disagree	7
Don't know	5

Current Party Positions:

• Labour - is not accepting that an open-ended moratorium is necessary or desirable. It believes food labelling is choice.
• Conservative - is calling for a 3 year moratorium and fully comprehensive labelling to allow consumer choice. It is not, however, opposed to GM releases in principle.
• SNP - is calling for a moratorium of production and sale of GMO crops and compulsory labelling of GM foodstuffs.
• Liberal Democrat - is calling for a 5 year moratorium on growing of GM crops and food and comprehensive labelling.
• Green Party - is calling for a ban on the growing of GM food.
• Greenpeace volunteers are conducting gene food tours at Tesco Metro, Clerk Street, Edinburgh from 11.15 am on Saturday 1st May, to inform members of the public which products in the supermarket contain GM ingredients.

Technical details

MORI Scotland interviewed a representative sample across Scotland of 1,000 people aged 18+. Interviews were conducted by MORI's telephone research centre On-Line Scotland between 6th-9th April 1999. Data are weighted to represent the profile of the population.