Public blamed ECHR over the Home Secretary for Abu Qatada delays
In the April edition of the political monitor we look at public opinion on the deportation of radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada.
Public blamed ECHR over the Home Secretary for the delays in deporting Abu Qatada, according to Ipsos research.
While many commentators believe the delay in deporting radical Muslin cleric, Abu Qatada, has played into the description of the government’s last few weeks as an “omnishambles”, a poll by Ipsos suggests that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is seen as primarily responsible by the public.
The poll, conducted in April, shows that two in five British adults (39%) hold the ECHR most responsible for the delays over Abu Qatada’s deportation, compared to one in five (22%) who blame the Home Secretary, Theresa May most. Home Office civil servants are blamed most by 17% of the public.
Around six in ten (57%) Conservative voters hold the ECHR responsible with only one in ten (11%) blaming the Home Secretary. Labour voters meanwhile are split with a third (34%) pointing the finger at the Home Secretary and another third (32%) blaming the ECHR.
This poll is released as Abu Qatada loses his attempt to make a final appeal to the ECHR against his deportation from the UK.
Head of Politics at Ipsos, Gideon Skinner said:
‘This poll highlights an anti-Europe sentiment that exists among sections of the British public, making the European Court a soft target. However, it’s worth remembering that our April Political Monitor also recorded the lowest approval ratings so far for the government, and the delay over the deportation will have combined with the Budget and other factors to contribute to this.”
Technical note
Ipsos interviewed 1,002 British adults aged 18+ by telephone between 21 and 23 April 2012. Data are weighted to the profile of the population.
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