Comments on: New YouGov/People poll http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191 Opinion polling and political analysis Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:19:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stuart Dickson http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191/comment-page-1#comment-584538 Stuart Dickson Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:46:19 +0000 http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/?p=2191#comment-584538 The full datasheets of the ICM/BBC Scotland poll are now available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_06_09_devolution_poll.pdf ‘Salmond ‘more popular’ than Brown’ The Scottish first minister is considerably more popular in Scotland than either Gordon Brown or David Cameron, a BBC poll has suggested. The poll, commissioned from ICM, found more than half of those questioned thought Alex Salmond was doing a “good” or “very good” job. But only 37% believed Mr Brown was performing well as UK prime minister. Tory leader Mr Cameron fared even worse, with only 21% thinking he would make a good prime minister. The poll of 1,010 people was carried out by ICM between 22 and 24 June to mark a decade of Scottish devolution. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8127464.stm The full datasheets of the ICM/BBC Scotland poll are now available:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_06_09_devolution_poll.pdf

‘Salmond ‘more popular’ than Brown’

The Scottish first minister is considerably more popular in Scotland than either Gordon Brown or David Cameron, a BBC poll has suggested.

The poll, commissioned from ICM, found more than half of those questioned thought Alex Salmond was doing a “good” or “very good” job.

But only 37% believed Mr Brown was performing well as UK prime minister.

Tory leader Mr Cameron fared even worse, with only 21% thinking he would make a good prime minister.

The poll of 1,010 people was carried out by ICM between 22 and 24 June to mark a decade of Scottish devolution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8127464.stm

]]> By: Neil A http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191/comment-page-1#comment-584507 Neil A Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:21:20 +0000 http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/?p=2191#comment-584507 Jack, you seem to imply that there is an inevitable and unstoppable move towards pro-Independence sentiment as some sort of "natural law". There have been many periods of history and geographical areas where the pull has been in the opposite direction. There is no doubt that Scottish Nationalists are on a historic "upswing" and that their star is brighter than it has been in many decades. That doesn't for a second mean that a continuing increase in their support is guaranteed. Even though they form the government, the likelihood is that if they succeeded in organising a vote on independence the Scots people would currently reject it. And that's just the electorate living in Scotland. What the hordes of Scots-born residents of England and elsewhere would have to say is something else. History teaches us that any political force that rises high will inevitably sink back down at some point. The question is will the SNP be able to push independence support up to the magic majority figure before an eventual anti-incumbency movement pushes them back out of favour. I say this as an English Unionist, but one who is entirely relaxed at the prospect of Scottish independence if that is the genuine will of the Scots. Jack, you seem to imply that there is an inevitable and unstoppable move towards pro-Independence sentiment as some sort of “natural law”. There have been many periods of history and geographical areas where the pull has been in the opposite direction. There is no doubt that Scottish Nationalists are on a historic “upswing” and that their star is brighter than it has been in many decades. That doesn’t for a second mean that a continuing increase in their support is guaranteed. Even though they form the government, the likelihood is that if they succeeded in organising a vote on independence the Scots people would currently reject it. And that’s just the electorate living in Scotland. What the hordes of Scots-born residents of England and elsewhere would have to say is something else. History teaches us that any political force that rises high will inevitably sink back down at some point. The question is will the SNP be able to push independence support up to the magic majority figure before an eventual anti-incumbency movement pushes them back out of favour.

I say this as an English Unionist, but one who is entirely relaxed at the prospect of Scottish independence if that is the genuine will of the Scots.

]]> By: Jack http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191/comment-page-1#comment-584464 Jack Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:46:08 +0000 http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/?p=2191#comment-584464 Responding to others; of course the only valid example is Ireland (or the Irish Free State for the unionist party supporters) so all the assorted examples were actually logically wrong. The other non-relevant examples given are more than outweighed by what happens by those countries which got freedom when the Empire collapsed and earlier. countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa etc which show what happens when people get a feel for their freedom. These are more than the equivalent of the examples others have used. The point I was making actually was a simple one--once enough people get a taste for independence / freedom then it can not be stopped. Look at the recent polls for increased powers for Scotland. In the 1960s SNP was basket case politics; now it is in government. The issue of independence is now a mainstream argument issue and will not disappear . Responding to others; of course the only valid example is Ireland (or the Irish Free State for the unionist party supporters) so all the assorted examples were actually logically wrong.

The other non-relevant examples given are more than outweighed by what happens by those countries which got freedom when the Empire collapsed and earlier. countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa etc which show what happens when people get a feel for their freedom. These are more than the equivalent of the examples others have used.

The point I was making actually was a simple one–once enough people get a taste for independence / freedom then it can not be stopped. Look at the recent polls for increased powers for Scotland. In the 1960s SNP was basket case politics; now it is in government. The issue of independence is now a mainstream argument issue and will not disappear .

]]> By: Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP) http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191/comment-page-1#comment-584454 Cllr Peter Cairns (SNP) Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:54:58 +0000 http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/?p=2191#comment-584454 The results for this are up on the web site and it has the tories well down on the position they held a month or so back of over 20%. Indeed this poll the last three YouGov polls and most importantly the Sunday times Scottish poll all show them avergaing about 17%. So far some reason over the Euros the Tories seem to have lost ground while the SNP has pulled ahead of Labour. Theories anybody. Peter. The results for this are up on the web site and it has the tories well down on the position they held a month or so back of over 20%.

Indeed this poll the last three YouGov polls and most importantly the Sunday times Scottish poll all show them avergaing about 17%.

So far some reason over the Euros the Tories seem to have lost ground while the SNP has pulled ahead of Labour.

Theories anybody.

Peter.

]]> By: NickR http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/2191/comment-page-1#comment-584444 NickR Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:15:59 +0000 http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/?p=2191#comment-584444 Report of a new ComRes poll due tonight. Report of a new ComRes poll due tonight.

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