Politics

The June MORI Political Monitor, published today, finds little movement in voting intentions. Labour, contrary to the assumption that the Black Rod spin row must have damaged Mr Blair, is fractionally up since last month, though none of the figures have moved to a statistically significant degree — there is no more change than must be expected from sampling variation.

A series of recent surveys by MORI and other agencies have thrown considerable light on the current state of race relations in Britain and the hopes and fears of the minority ethnic communities.

Political Attitudes in Great Britain

MORI publishes results of major new survey

Quarterly survey of attitudes towards public services

If you take your view of British public opinion from the impressions reflected in the media, this has been something of a roller-coaster few months for the standing of the Monarchy and Royal Family.

Source: MORI/British Council
Base: 1.002 British adults 16+, 5-7 April 2002

This morning's widespread press discussion of last night's Commons vote to allow adoption by unmarried couples (including same-sex couples) makes much of the political ructions that the issue has caused in the Conservative Party, but there is little reference to public opinion on the issue.The issue is not yet resolved. Separate amendments defining that a couple can be of the same sex or different sex will be voted on next week; and the final bill may still be blocked in the Lords.

Now the dust has settled from the Chancellor's tax-raising budget, let us take the opportunity for a wider view of what we know about public attitudes to "tax and spend".