Category: Radio 1; News
Date: 03.05.2005
Printable version
Less than a third of Britain's first time voters say that they will definitely be voting in the General Election on 5 May, according to a poll by ICM for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1's Newsbeat programme.
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The poll shows an estimated 31% of those sampled will go the polls - that's lower than the figure of 38% in a similar poll of first time voters for Newsbeat at the last General Election in 2001.
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Other findings of the poll suggest reasons for voter apathy among the young are mainly that they "can't be bothered" (32%) or that they believe "their vote won't make any difference" (30%).
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Around one in five said it was because they "didn't know enough about politics".
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The survey suggests that if people were able to use other voting methods there would be greater enthusiasm for voting.
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If text voting was allowed nearly six in ten (59% of the sample) say they'd be more likely to vote - and if the ballot could be cast online the figure for "more likely to vote" is 56%.
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There's less enthusiasm for postal voting with only 28% saying that would make them more likely to vote.
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If celebrities were involved in politics many young voters would still be turned off.
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More than half the sample (53%) said the involvement of celebrities would make no difference to the likelihood of them voting.
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First time voters were asked what would be the first thing they would do at Number Ten if they were Prime Minister for a day.
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Twenty per cent of those questioned said they would spend more on the NHS; 17% would pull British troops out of Iraq; 15% would raise the minimum wage; and 14% would abolish university tuition fees.
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In terms of issues, according to those surveyed, Labour are thought best able to handle crime, the NHS, and education - the Conservatives lead on immigration and asylum issues.
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The Liberal Democrats best showing was on education - with 14%, joint second with the Conservatives.
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Crime, tax and employment issues along with the NHS are seen as the biggest issues by young voters, the poll suggests.
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Asked which of the party leaders reminds them most of characters from 91Èȱ¬ Television's The Office, among those who answered, Tony Blair reminded 39% of David Brent with Michael Howard being identified with Gareth and Charles Kennedy as the "fat bloke in accounts".
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Commenting on the survey, the Editor of Radio 1's Newsbeat Rod McKenzie said: "The poll shows that first time voters do care about the issues that affect their daily lives, but are seemingly sceptical, even cynical, about the politicians, the parties and the electoral system."
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Note to Editors
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ICM Research interviewed 1,078 first time voters face to face. The fieldwork was done on 23 and 24 April.
