ComRes Poll shows strong support for top ten Ukip policies even when party is named

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://comres.co.uk/polls/chartwell-policies-poll/

Chartwell Policies Poll

Poll of 1,700 English adults by ComRes measuring public support for a range of policies, conducted for Chartwell Political

The poll of English adults involved a ‘split sample’ so that support for the policies could be compared between respondents who were told that they were UKIP policies, and respondents who were not told. The results reveal that when associated with UKIP, the variation in support is within the margin of error. This suggests that, in contrast with historical polls which have shown a toxicity of brand when associating policies with political parties (historically notably for the Conservative Party), UKIP’s policies are either sufficiently popular to overcome and negative brand associations, or that such negative brand associations do not appear to apply to UKIP.

In order of popularity, the ten policies are:

1. Committing an additional £3billion of annual spending on the NHS in England and Wales – 81% (79%)
2. Ensuring people on the national minimum wage do not have to pay income tax – 74% (75%)
3. Introducing a new system of control for immigration using an equivalent of the Australian points-based system with no distinction between EU and non-EU citizens – 72% (70%)
4. Cutting the amount spend by Government on overseas aid – 70% (66%)
5. Holding an immediate referendum on whether or not the UK should be a member of the European Union (EU) – 60% (61%)
6. Increasing spending on defence and the armed forces – 59% (58%)
7. Abolishing inheritance tax – 58% (57%)
8. Increasing the number of grammar schools – 53% (50%)
9. Scrapping HS2, the planned high speed rail line between London, the Midlands and Northern England – 46% (47%)
10. Removing “green levies” for energy companies which tax the sources of pollution or carbon emission – 40% (42%)

(% in brackets denote support for policies cited as UKIP policies)

The poll reveals that these ten policies are likely to elicit strong support over the coming General Election ‘short’ campaign period, with levels of opposition among the public at 30% or less for each of them.

Even the policies which are supported by fewer than half the public - scrapping HS2 (46%) and removing green levies (40%) – this level of support is still higher than the proportion of people who oppose them (23% and 33% respectively).

ComRes interviewed 1,742 adults online in England between 6th and 8th March 2015. Half the sample were asked whether they support or oppose each of the ten policies, the other half of the sample were asked whether they support or oppose each of the UKIP policies. Data were weighted to be representative of all English adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

An interesting poll although not a good read if you are a Guardian reader and think you represent the country rather than the reality (just Islington).

I know purely from talking to normal people out there that those set of policies are popular and held by the majority just I was surprised that when the party was named, levels of support for those policies didn't really budge at all. As the pollster says, historically when the Conservative Party is mentioned in polls like this the level of support for the policies drops like a stone... and I have seen similar polls in the past when it came to the BNP being listed. It seems that the brand is coated in teflon, or the policies are so popular they overcome this.

My favourites are grammar schools, the EU and border controls.

Thoughts?

[scottish]

The only reason it'll change is if someone's voting for the name rather than the parties beliefs.

Obviously if you support NHS getting more funding you'll Support the policy regardless of what idiot wants to bring it into action.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The only reason it'll change is if someone's voting for the name rather than the parties beliefs.

Indeed, but the chance to crack FPTP is better than ever now whether its Ukip, the SNP or even the Greens.

Obviously if you support NHS getting more funding you'll Support the policy regardless of what idiot wants to bring it into action.

I'm actually against that one myself, there's plenty of savings to be found in the existing NHS budget imho.

[AgnesIO]

Indeed, but the chance to crack FPTP is better than ever now whether its Ukip, the SNP or even the Greens.



I'm actually against that one myself, there's plenty of savings to be found in the existing NHS budget imho.

Maybe they want more cash in the NHS so they don't accidentally try to kill Farage again.

[scottish]

or maybe those who oppose it want to take cash out of the NHS so they finish the job next time.