Poll Archive

Political Attitudes

Fieldwork: November 3rd 2006 - November 5th 2006

published by The Times

Click here to download detailed results 169k

Voting Intention

(Change on previous poll in brackets)

Labour	33%	(-2%)
Conservative	36%	(-)
Lib Dem	20%	(+2%)
Other	11%	(-)

The 'Others' vote is broken down between

Green	3%
SNP	2%
Plaid Cymru	1%
BNP	2%
UKIP	1%
Others	2%

Brown v. Cameron & Campbell

Now I'd like you to think ahead to the next election, expected in 3 or 4 years' time. Imagine that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown takes over from Tony Blair as Labour leader and the Conservatives are led by David Cameron and the Liberal Democrats by Ming Campbell. Which party would you vote for – or would you vote for another party or not vote at all?

[NB: These figures are past vote and turnout weighted]

* Charles Kennedy in November and December 2005

Thinking ahead to the next election	Labour led by Gordon Brown	Conservatives led by David Cameron	Lib Dems led by Ming Campbell *	Another party
November 2005	37%	35%	20%	9%
December 2005	35%	41%	20%	4%
May 2006	31%	41%	18%	9%
July 2006	33%	42%	16%	9%
September 2006	33%	42%	16%	9%
October 2006	34%	42%	15%	9%
November 2006	34%	38%	19%	9%

Iraq

Do you think that British troops should stay in Iraq for as long as it takes to make sure that Iraq is a stable democracy or do you think that British troops should be withdrawn from Iraq as soon as possible even if Iraq is not completely stable?

	Jul-04	Oct-04	Feb-06	Jun-06	Nov-06
Stay until Iraq is stable	42%	49%	38%	32%	35%
Withdraw as soon as possible	51%	42%	62%	58%	58%
Don't know	7%	9%	0%	10%	8%
Net ‘Withdraw as soon as possible'	9%	7%	24%	26%	23%

This week there has been a debate in Parliament about whether and when there should be a full official inquiry into the government's handling of the Iraq war and its aftermath. Please say which of the following is closest to your view.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	LD
There is no need for an inquiry	13%	17%	8%	17%	9%	13%	11%	22%	5%	12%
There should be an inquiry, but not until the troops are out of Iraq	34%	37%	31%	34%	29%	39%	33%	32%	34%	40%
There should be an inquiry now	49%	44%	55%	48%	57%	43%	49%	42%	57%	48%

Green Taxes

The government has recently published a report showing that climate change could have a very significant impact on the world economy unless action is taken now to reduce carbon emissions. Politicians from all main parties have called for a switch to ‘green taxes' to discourage activities that damage the environment. Please say if you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

Introducing new ‘green taxes' on things like petrol and airline tickets would only be acceptable if other taxes were cut, so people were not paying higher taxes overall.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	LD
Agree	71%	71%	71%	66%	75%	73%	71%	68%	72%	73%
Disagree	27%	28%	26%	32%	24%	25%	26%	29%	26%	26%
Net agree	44%	43%	45%	34%	51%	48%	45%	39%	46%	47%

I would personally be willing to pay significantly higher petrol prices, car tax and air fares as part of efforts to cut back on carbon emissions to address the problem of climate change.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	LD
Agree	53%	53%	54%	53%	56%	46%	56%	56%	49%	58%
Disagree	45%	46%	44%	47%	42%	52%	42%	42%	51%	40%
Net agree	8%	7%	10%	6%	14%	-6%	14%	14%	-2%	18%

Climate change is a global problem and unless the rest of the world, especially the big polluters like America and China, are also going to introduce green taxes and cut back on activities that contribute to climate change, there isn't much point in Britain doing so.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	LD
Agree	60%	66%	55%	54%	62%	61%	66%	63%	67%	52%
Disagree	38%	33%	43%	46%	38%	35%	33%	37%	33%	48%
Net agree	22%	33%	12%	8%	24%	26%	33%	26%	34%	4%

People who don't recycle everything that can be recycled should be subject to fines by their local council.

	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	LD
Agree	53%	48%	58%	57%	53%	47%	55%	59%	56%	57%
Disagree	45%	51%	40%	42%	45%	52%	44%	41%	42%	42%
Net agree	8%	-3%	18%	15%	8%	-5%	11%	18%	14%	15%

Green Habits

I am going to read out some things that some people say they are doing in their daily lives and homes to make a personal contribution to tackling the problem of climate change. Please say whether or not you do each of the following.

% saying they do each thing	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	Lib Dem
Only boiling as much water as needed, not automatically filling the kettle	81%	80%	82%	80%	84%	76%	85%	83%	81%	86%
Switch off the TV by using the off button on the set, or the switch at the wall, rather than by turning it off with the remote control & leaving it on 'standby'	80%	78%	81%	81%	79%	78%	80%	79%	82%	78%
Recycle everything in the household that can be recycled	76%	73%	79%	75%	71%	76%	82%	78%	80%	84%
Try to avoid unnecessary car journeys	75%	71%	78%	70%	73%	78%	78%	76%	68%	78%
Buy only low-energy light bulbs	65%	64%	66%	66%	66%	62%	66%	69%	65%	59%
Try to use public transport whenever possible	56%	50%	62%	48%	57%	53%	66%	59%	52%	59%
Make a conscious effort to take fewer flights	54%	54%	53%	53%	52%	57%	54%	60%	51%	57%
Participate in car-pooling schemes to cut down on the number of car journeys	28%	28%	28%	20%	24%	31%	36%	26%	23%	34%

Ages of Majority

At the moment it becomes legal to do various things at different ages between 16 and 21. Please say at what age you think it should be legal to do each of the following things?

Average age given	All	Men	Women	AB	C1	C2	DE	Lab	Con	Lib Dem
Get married	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	18
Join the armed forces	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18
Buy cigarettes	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	18
Buy alcohol	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19
Drive a car	19	18	19	19	18	18	19	19	19	18
Own a gun	24	23	24	23	24	24	24	24	23	24
Vote	18	18	18	18	18	18	19	18	18	18
Adopt a child	23	22	23	23	22	23	23	23	22	23
Stand for Parliament	23	22	24	23	23	23	24	23	23	23
Buy fireworks	20	20	20	20	20	20	21	20	20	20

Average age given	All	18-24	25-34	35-44	45-54	55-64	65+
Get married	19	18	18	18	19	19	20
Join the armed forces	18	17	18	18	18	18	18
Buy cigarettes	19	18	18	19	19	19	20
Buy alcohol	19	18	19	19	19	20	20
Drive a car	19	17	18	18	19	19	19
Own a gun	24	22	24	24	24	24	25
Vote	18	18	18	18	18	18	19
Adopt a child	23	21	22	22	23	23	24
Stand for Parliament	23	21	22	22	23	24	25
Buy fireworks	20	19	19	21	21	21	20

Populus interviewed a random sample of 1,510 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 3rd November 2006 and 5th November 2006. Interviews were conducted across England and the results have been weighted to be representative of all English adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For a full description of the methods we use, please click here.

Contact me about
this poll