(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A majority of adults in Britain believe a Conservative party government should change existing immigration guidelines, according to a poll by YouGov released by the Daily Telegraph. 52 per cent of respondents would like the Tories to reduce immigration if they win the next general election.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – A majority of adults in Britain believe a Conservative party government should change existing immigration guidelines, according to a poll by YouGov released by the Daily Telegraph. 52 per cent of respondents would like the Tories to reduce immigration if they win the next general election.
Reducing the powers of the European Union (EU) and increasing the powers of Britain’s Parliament is second on the list with 39 per cent, followed by doing more to help families and restore traditional family values with 34 per cent, scrapping the current Labour government’s plan introduce identity cards with 26 per cent, and building more prisons so that criminals can serve longer sentences with 25 per cent.
In June 2007, Gordon Brown officially became Labour leader and prime minister, replacing Tony Blair. Brown had worked as chancellor of the exchequer. Blair served as Britain’s prime minister since May 1997, winning majority mandates in the 1997, 2001 and 2005 elections to the House of Commons.
Since December 2005, David Cameron has been the leader of the Conservative party. In December 2007, current parliamentarian Nick Clegg became the new leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Last month, Cameron discussed immigration, saying, "Over the last decade, I think we’ve had an immigration system that has been too liberal. Too many work permits have been given out and we haven’t had proper controls on immigration. (…) I am in favour of immigration. I think we benefit from people coming to our country and making a contribution, but it does need to be limited."
The next election to the House of Commons must be held on or before Jun. 3, 2010. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve Parliament and call an early ballot at their discretion.
Polling Data
If the Conservatives won the next election which two or three (if any) of the following things would you most like them to do? [Please tick up to three]
|
Reduce immigration |
52% |
|
Reduce the powers of the European Union and increase the powers of Britain’s Parliament |
39% |
|
Do more to help families and restore traditional family values |
34% |
|
Scrap Labour’s plans to introduce identity cards |
26% |
|
Build more prisons so that criminals can serve longer prison sentences |
25% |
|
Reduce taxes |
24% |
|
Take tougher measures to help the environment and avert climate change |
20% |
|
Give local voters the right in referendums to keep down increases in council tax |
17% |
|
Bring back state-funded grammar schools and the 11+ exam |
10% |
|
Reduce spending on public services |
7% |
|
None of these |
3% |
|
Don’t know |
4% |
Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews with 2,063 British voters, conducted from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
