Research conducted by Ipsos for the Young Foundation shows that the British public believe political parties have an important role to play in democracy. Half the public (49%) say that political parties in Britain enable the people to have a voice; and a similar number also disagree that Britain would be better off if political parties did not exist and all politicians were independent. At the same time, fewer than a quarter believe that parties are open and transparent, and the most popular approaches to making parties more appealing would be for them to involve people more in local decision making and for them to listen more to the public.
Europe's top business people are travelling more, earning more, spending more on the internet, have a liking for high tech gadgets; and have a massive thirst for business news in print, on TV and on the internet.
The survey found overall support for GCSE coursework, particularly among teachers of typically coursework-instensive subjects such as English, Music and Geography. Benefits cited by teachers include "helping students to gain experience build some skills in the subject" (29%) and "encouraging independent learning" (25%). Other perceived benefits relate to a student-friendly assessment method, for example being "less stressful than exams" (23%).
New Ipsos research undertaken for BUPA explores attitudes and opinions about an aging population and workforce, among the general public and senior HR executives.
Poll commissioned for the RSPCA in 2006 asking whether people think the use of wild animals in circuses should or should not be banned.
Pulse Check
Pulse Check delivers key insights from Ipsos' Political Monitor, Political Pulse, and Public Services data, along with reactive polling, to help you navigate the evolving political landscape.
Research by Ipsos among British MPs this Summer has shown a major boost to the acceptability of building replacement nuclear power stations. Sixty-one percent of MPs now support this; up 16 points since Summer 2005. Within this, the most notable change is the growth in support among Labour MPs: up 22 points to 60%. There is a sense this support is a little reluctant — just 44% are actually favourable towards nuclear energy — but it is sustained by a feeling there is no real alternative, given the need for limiting carbon emissions.
Findings from an Ipsos survey on behalf Cancerbackup are unambiguous in showing that cancer is a key public priority, both in absolute terms, and compared with other illnesses and diseases. Cancer has remained the top national health priority among the general public since 2003 [note 1], and its importance as a health concern overshadows public concern for other illnesses and diseases. The question asked the public, without any prompting, which, if any, illness or diseases they think should be a national health priority.
According to a recent Ipsos survey for the RMT, three-quarters (74%) of adults in London and the South East would prefer for the extended East London line to continue to be run by a public sector organisation than by a private rail company (10%).
According to the latest Ipsos Government Delivery Index, two in five British adults (40%) think that the Government's policies will improve the state of Britain's economy in the long-term, although slightly more (46%) disagree, giving a net optimism score of -6. This is slightly higher than the net score of -13 in May 2006.
The public think the NHS is in crisis yet patients consistently report high levels of satisfaction with the care they receive. Lost in Translation — a new report published today by the NHS Confederation — examines why there is such a large gap in perceptions.
The public's detailed image of the Prime Minister has deteriorated significantly in the last 18 months, analysis of data from the Ipsos Political Monitor shows; but while Gordon Brown's image is better, it shares many of the most negative characteristics of Mr Blair's. The poll, conducted at the start of September (before the recent public falling out over the Prime Minister's retirement date) finds that Mr Brown, like Mr Blair, is primarily seen as out of touch, though the public also admit that he has sound judgment, a description they are reluctant to apply to Tony Blair, and many more people describe him as inflexible, tending to talk down to people and narrow minded than have the same impression of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders.
