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 *

More insights about Public Sector

Society