Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research

Electoral Issues Split Views In Britain

April 09, 2005
Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Britons believe politicians are paying too much attention to the country's pension system, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 68 per cent of respondents say the topic has been discussed too much in the campaign.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many Britons believe politicians are paying too much attention to the country's pension system, according to a poll by YouGov published in the Daily Telegraph. 68 per cent of respondents say the topic has been discussed too much in the campaign.

On Apr. 5, prime minister Tony Blair asked Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve Parliament and called a general election for May 5. Blair announced that he would lead the Labour party into the next parliamentary ballot, and retire at the end of what would be his third term in office.

Michael Howard—a former interior minister under John Major in the early 1990s—has been the country's top Tory politician since November 2003. Charles Kennedy has headed the Liberal Democrats since August 1999.

More than half of all respondents say council tax, global warming, and law and order have become persistent topics. Conversely, more than 20 per cent of respondents would like more discussions about asylum and immigration, the terrorist threat and poverty in Africa.

Polling Data

People have different views about the issues that ought to be discussed during the present election campaign. In connection with the following issues, do you think it is being discussed too little, too much, or about the right amount?

 

Too
Much

Too
Little

About
Right

Long-term future of pensions

68%

4%

19%

Council tax

55%

8%

28%

Global warming

54%

9%

27%

Law and order

53%

10%

30%

Asylum / Immigration

48%

24%

21%

Housing and house building

41%

9%

39%

Taxation

40%

13%

37%

The HIV/AIDS epidemic

40%

11%

33%

Traffic congestion

38%

15%

35%

Britain's relations with Europe

37%

18%

35%

The terrorist threat

32%

26%

24%

Poverty in Africa

32%

23%

31%

Source: YouGov / Daily Telegraph
Methodology: Online interviews to 5,109 British adults, conducted on Apr. 5 and Apr. 6, 2005. No margin of error was provided.