The Reputation Of Business In Westminster

This report brings together thirty years of research among this key audience and covers MPs' attitudes towards business and the political and economic landscape in which business operates. Specifically: The issues MPs are contacted about most frequently by individuals MPs' economic outlook and how their views compare with other audiences How MPs' concerns for business and industry have changed since the late 1970s MPs' views on whether business is meeting its social and environmental responsibilities The factors MPs take into account when judging companies The lessons we have learnt from analysing the reputation of individual companies Individual MPs singled out as most impressive by their peers

01.08.06

In 1976 James Callaghan replaced Harold Wilson as Prime Minister, Jeremy Thorpe resigned as leader of the Liberal Party after being accused of conspiring to murder a former male model, and Britain applied to the International Monetary Fund for a loan of $3.9 billion.

1976 was also the first year that MORI surveyed Members of Parliament on behalf of a group of clients. MPs were then, and remain, a key stakeholder audience. Their decisions can directly impact all organisations and industry sectors, while their opinions of individual companies and organisations can greatly influence other stakeholders. For three decades MORI has helped a wide range of companies and organisations understand MPs' attitudes towards them, as well as towards wider political and economic issues. As a result, we have built up an extensive and unique bank of trend data among MPs. This paper draws these data together for the first time.

After 1976, the survey took place again in 1978, 1980 and every year since. To meet client demand the questionnaire has steadily expanded, and since 1991 the survey has been conducted twice a year. For each study, a representative sample of backbench and frontbench MPs is drawn from across the political spectrum (it is not a paid-for panel, which has limitations as a research vehicle). Interviews are then conducted face-to-face either in Westminster or in the MPs' constituencies. Most of the biggest names in British politics have taken part in the survey over the years.

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