Category: News
Date: 17.10.2005
Printable version
Two thirds (66%) of voters surveyed have said it would make no difference to whether they would vote Conservative if they knew the leader of the party had used cocaine at some point in the past, according to a Newsnight/ICM poll published this evening (Monday 17 October, 91Èȱ¬ TWO, 10.30pm).
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Twenty-eight per cent of voters polled said they would be less likely to vote Conservative if they knew the party's leader had used cocaine.
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The poll asked: Would knowing that the leader of the Conservative party had used cocaine at some time in the past make you more or less likely to vote Conservative or would it make no difference?
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No difference 66%
Less likely 28%
More likely 3%
Don't know/refused 3%
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Those polled who vote Conservative or would at least consider voting Conservative at some point were asked the same question. The answers were:
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No difference 64%
Less likely 27%
More likely 6%
Don't know/refused 3%
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The poll also asked about cannabis. It asked: Would knowing that the leader of the Conservative party had used cannabis at some time in the past make you more or less likely to vote Conservative or would it make no difference?
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No difference 82%
Less likely 11%
More likely 4%
Don't know/refused 3%
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Of people polled who vote Conservative - or would at least consider voting Conservative at some point - the knowledge that the leader of the Conservative party had used cannabis at some time in the past would make very little difference to whether they are likely to vote Conservative.
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No difference 81%
Less likely 9%
More likely 8%
Don't know/refused 3%
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... a net 'less likely' of just one per cent amongst Conservative voters and people who may consider voting Conservative.
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Amongst some groups of electors polled, the knowledge that the leader of the Conservative party may have used cannabis may actually be a net positive.
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In the age group 25-34, seven per cent said it would make them 'more likely' to vote Conservative compared with five per cent saying 'less likely', a net 'more likely' of two per cent.
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And amongst people who are currently non-Conservative voters but say they would consider voting Conservative, 16 per cent said it would make them 'more likely' to vote Conservative compared with 10 per cent saying 'less likely', a net of six per cent saying 'more likely'.
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Notes to Editors
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ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1,003 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 14 and 16 October 2005.
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Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
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ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk.
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