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Concern about the EU slumps to 3 percent in the latest Ipsos-MORI issues index

Concern about the EU slumps to 3 percent in the latest Ipsos-MORI issues index

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Ipsos-MORI The latest Ipsos-MORI issues index is out and the main finding together with the trend on the the EU are in the chart above. Interestingly the economy is down quite sharply although overall it is by far the biggest concern. This unique polling which has been carried out by the firm for more than 35 years seeks to test the salience of specific issue areas by not prompting those who take part. Instead they are invited simply to name…

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Are we getting closer to an EU referendum?

Are we getting closer to an EU referendum?

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If so what would be the outcome? According to the BBC’s Nick Robinson David Cameron is set to address Tory back-bench concerns over the EU with a major speech in the next couple of month on Britain’s relationship with Brussels. Under the heading “David Cameron considers a referendum on Europe” Robinson writes:- “..The pressures on the prime minister are now much greater than they were before the 2010 election – UKIP is building support and many Westminster insiders believe they…

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Clegg opens the pre-conference rhetoric wars by accusing his coalition partners of being “infantile” over the EU

Clegg opens the pre-conference rhetoric wars by accusing his coalition partners of being “infantile” over the EU

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Public Service Europe We are just one week away from the opening of the party conferences when the main objective of the leaders is to ensure that at the very minimum they get through unscathed with their positions not being undermined. This is the period in the year when it’s all about connecting with your base and the more you can be nasty about the other parties then the better. This is especially so for the coalition partners who’ll be…

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Two in 3 CON-UKIP switchers DO NOT mention the EU

Two in 3 CON-UKIP switchers DO NOT mention the EU

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Are the Tories mis-reading the threat from Farage? I’ve just come across some intriguing polling that was tucked away in a post on the Coffee House website last month by the Speccie’s James Forsyth, In it he reported on a series of “calm the nerves” briefing sessions that are being held at Number 10 for groups of a dozen or so Tory back-benchers. Part of this is a presentation by the ex-Populus boss who is now Number 10’s strategy director,…

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Can Dave ever satisfy his party on Europe?

Can Dave ever satisfy his party on Europe?

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Could the blues split themselves once again over the EU? If Dave thought that his Sunday Telegraph article on an EU referendum was going to deal with the growing pressure he was wrong. All it has done is open up new lines of attack and the weekend strategy looks as though it could have been a mistake. One of his beaten opponents in the 2005 leadership contest who became the first Tory to leave the cabinet, Liam Fox, has gone…

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Is Dave’s referendum pledge a cop-out?

Is Dave’s referendum pledge a cop-out?

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Will the time ever be right for it to be held? The big political news overnight is that Dave has said in an article under his name in the Telegraph that he’ll consider a referendum on the UK’s EU relationship. But there’s a catch. This will only happen when the time is right. To agree with the principle of doing something but with a caveat on the timing is the classic ruse used by politicians through the ages. The article…

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Tories 5 times more concerned about EU/€ than LAB voters

Tories 5 times more concerned about EU/€ than LAB voters

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Ipsos-MORI Why the big MORI difference between the parties? The monthly Ipsos-MORI issues index for June is just out and concern about the EU/€ than has edged up 2% to 8% – where it was in April. This polling has been carried out in exactly the same way for more than a third of a century and involves asking people to name a many issues that concern them without being prompted. Given how the Eurozone crisis has dominated the headlines…

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Does Dave have to offer a referendum before Ed does?

Does Dave have to offer a referendum before Ed does?

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The Sunday Times are reporting that Andrew Cooper, formerly of Populus and currently David Cameron’s pollster has warned the Tories they face embarrassment in the 2014 European Parliament elections, where they could be pushed into second place or worse by UKIP, unless they make a dramatic manifesto pledge to have an in/out referendum. A source said: “Cooper’s polling is clear. There’s a real public backlash against the EU and if we don’t do something, UKIP will get the benefit. There’s a…

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