Ipsos Political Monitor March 2008
Ipsos's Economic Optimism Index, which measures public optimism about the future of the economy, is currently the lowest it has been since March 1980.
Ipsos's Economic Optimism Index, which measures public optimism about the future of the economy, is currently the lowest it has been since March 1980. Two thirds (67%) of the British public think that the general economic condition of the country will get worse over the next 12 months, with just 7% believing it will improve. A fifth (22%) think it will stay the same.
Ipsos's March Political Monitor also shows the Conservatives making gains on Labour in terms of satisfaction with their leaders: public satisfaction with David Cameron has increased by three points since February (35% to 38% now), and satisfaction with Gordon Brown has dropped four points from 31% to 27%.
Race relations / immigration remains the most important issue facing the country (44%), followed by crime (40%) and the NHS (24%). Almost one in four (23%) list the economy as one of the most important issues facing Britain.
Topline Results
- Ipsos interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,983 adults aged 18+ at 198 sampling points across Great Britain.
- Interviews were conducted face-to-face on 13-18 March 2008.
- Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.
- Download the data tabulations pdf, 323KB
- Download the presentation slides pdf, 213KB
Voting -- all absolutely certain to vote
Q1 How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?
(If undecided or refused at Q1)
Q2 Which party are you most inclined to support?
Base: All 'absolutely certain to vote' (1,084)
160 | % |
---|---|
Conservative | 40 |
Labour | 35 |
Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem) | 18 |
Scottish/Welsh Nationalist | 2 |
Green Party | 1 |
UK Independence Party | 1 |
Other | 3 |
160 | |
Lab lead (177%) | -5 |
160 | |
Would not vote | 1 |
Undecided | 7 |
Refused | 2 |
Voting -- all
Q1 How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?
(If undecided or refused at Q1)
Which party are you most inclined to support?
Base: All naming a party (1,983)
160 | % |
---|---|
Conservative | 35 |
Labour | 40 |
Liberal Democrats (Lib Dem) | 17 |
Scottish/Welsh Nationalist | 2 |
Green Party | 1 |
UK Independence Party | 1 |
Other | 4 |
160 | |
Lab lead (177%) | +5 |
160 | |
Would not vote | 13 |
Undecided | 11 |
Refused | 1 |
Q3 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the Government is running the country? Q4 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr Brown is doing his job as Prime Minister? Q5 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr Cameron is doing his job as leader of the Conservative Party? Q6 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Nick Clegg is doing his job as leader of the Liberal Democrats?
Base: 999 British adults 18+
160 | Satisfied | Dissatisfied | Don't know | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|
160 | % | % | % | 177% |
Government (Q3) | 26 | 65 | 9 | -39 |
Brown (Q4) | 27 | 58 | 15 | -31 |
Cameron (Q5) | 38 | 34 | 28 | +4 |
Clegg (Q6) | 19 | 26 | 56 | -7 |
Q3 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way the Government is running the country? Q4 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr Brown is doing his job as Prime Minister? Q5 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Mr Cameron is doing his job as leader of the Conservative Party? Q6 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Nick Clegg is doing his job as leader of the Liberal Democrats?
Base: All party supporters
160 | Base | Satisfied | Dissatisfied | Don't know | Index |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
160 | n | % | % | % | % |
Government (Q3) | 306 | 49 | 40 | 11 | +9 |
Brown (Q4) | 306 | 55 | 29 | 17 | +26 |
Cameron (Q5) | 267 | 66 | 19 | 16 | +47 |
Clegg (Q6) | 118 | 43 | 23 | 34 | +20 |
Q7 What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? (Spontaneous) Q8 What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today? (Spontaneous)
Base: 999 British adults 18+
160 | Q7 | Q7/8 |
---|---|---|
160 | % | % |
Race relations / immigration / immigrants | 28 | 44 |
Crime / law & order / violence / vandalism / anti-social (yob) behaviour | 17 | 40 |
National Health Service / Hospitals / Health care | 6 | 24 |
Economy / economic situation | 11 | 23 |
Defence / foreign affairs / international terrorism | 5 | 17 |
Education / schools | 2 | 17 |
Inflation / prices | 3 | 11 |
Taxation | 3 | 11 |
Pollution / environment | 4 | 10 |
Housing | 3 | 10 |
Morality / individual behaviour | 3 | 9 |
Poverty / inequality | 1 | 7 |
Drug abuse | * | 7 |
Unemployment / factory closure / lack of industry | 2 | 6 |
Pensions / social security / benefits | 1 | 6 |
Petrol prices / fuel | 1 | 6 |
Local government / council tax | 1 | 4 |
Low pay / minimum wage / fair wages | 1 | 4 |
Public services in general | * | 4 |
Common Market / EU / Europe / EURO | 1 | 3 |
Transport / public transport | * | 3 |
Nuclear weapons / nuclear war / disarmament | 1 | 2 |
Countryside / rural life | * | 1 |
Pound / exchange rate / value of pound | * | 1 |
Privatisation | * | 1 |
Animal welfare | 0 | 1 |
Scottish / Welsh Assembly / Devolution Constitutional reform | 0 | 1 |
AIDS | * | * |
Bird flu / Flu pandemic | 0 | * |
Foot and mouth outbreak / farming crisis | 0 | * |
GM / GM (Genetically Modified) foods | 0 | * |
Northern Ireland | 0 | * |
Trade unions / strikes | 0 | 0 |
Other | 2 | 4 |
Don't know | 4 | 3 |
Q9 Do you think that the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same, or get worse over the next 12 months?
Base: 999 British adults 18+
160 | % |
---|---|
Improve | 7 |
Stay the same | 22 |
Get worse | 67 |
Don't know | 4 |
Ipsos EOI | -60 |
Q10 And how likely would you be to vote in an immediate General Election, on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 means you would be absolutely certain to vote, and 1 means that you would be absolutely certain not to vote?
Base: 1,983 British adults 18+
160 | % |
---|---|
10 -- absolutely certain to vote | 55 |
9 | 5 |
8 | 8 |
7 | 4 |
6 | 3 |
5 | 6 |
4 | 1 |
3 | 2 |
2 | 2 |
1 -- absolutely certain not to vote | 12 |
Don't know | 3 |
Refused | * |
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