Comments on: Disconnecting filesharers and issue saliency

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:29:33 +0000

Do you think some people use ‘tactical voting’ in opinion polls? For example, if I was asked about an issue that was moderately important to me, I could say it was extremely important. That would help push it up the agenda, making it more likely that action would be taken on an issue that is, after all, of some importance to me.

It would be possible to go further. Suppose someone was a committed Tory supporter at the time of the grammar schools row. Perhaps he supports grammar schools, but isn’t particularly bothered; he is more keen to see the Tories win an election. He might be tempted to follow the leadership’s line, even though that isn’t his personal view. Doing that would demonstrate support for David Cameron’s line among Tory voters, helping to damp down the negative stories in the press.

By: Wood

Wood — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:42:32 +0000

Error, you entered the wrong captcha code (again, and again, no I didn’t), and you post has been lost.

Captchas only work if they…..work.

By: Anthony Wells

Anthony Wells — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:19:11 +0000

Glenn only said there were “hundreds if not thousands” (possibly a slight underestimate, considering VoteOK, the third party body that acts as a clearing house for hunt supporters who wish to help the campaigns of pro-hunting MPs, claims 7000 volunteers) of huntsmen campaigning for the Conservative party. I have no idea if there is an equally organised use of anti-hunting activitists in the opposite direction.

Either way out of an electorate of 40,000,000 that is well under 0.5%, so doesn’t contradict the poll findings that rural issues and animal welfare are only major issues to a very small minority.

If that minority care deeply enough to actually go out and help leaflet and campaign though, they do have the potential to make a difference.

By: Andy Stidwill

Andy Stidwill — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:06:29 +0000

Most people living in rural areas are neither strongly in favour or against fox-hunting. Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves.

By: Glenn Otto

Glenn Otto — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:17:30 +0000

It is quite interesting as to what issue may make someone change their vote, or more importantly do something about it

May I use myself as an example:

I am a solid Tory and have always voted for them. However had there not been a boundry change I would not have voted for Brian Binley, who was caught fiddling his expences.

But I feel so strongly about the fox hunting issue that I spent a week canvassing in south london for Boris during the recent london elections. In fact there are hundreds, if not thousands of us countrymen working our hearts out at all elections to ensure a tory victory and the lifting of the fox hunting ban.