Care/NHS ranks as the most important issue, and the Tories have a strong lead at this stage in the campaign.
These are the most striking results from a Newsnugget poll conducted last week in Barnes. Ahead of the upcoming general election in the UK, our reporters took to the street of SW13 to ask people how they feel about the fact that there is a vote; which issues they find most important, and if they have already decided how to cast their ballot on June 8.
Newsnuggets’ reporters designed their own questionnaire and spent some time practising how to interview strangers, before heading out in the streets in small groups last Tuesday. They bravely and politely approached a random selection of passers-by; in total, 52 people – half men and half women – agreed to answered their questions.
This size sample gives a real idea of where the wind is blowing among voters in Richmond Borough. Below we can present the most interesting results (note: the questions were more carefully phrased than the headings below).
What is important to you?
The interviewed people got to name which 2 issues they care most about. 31% chose Care/NHS as one of the most important political topics, followed by 20% selecting Education, whilst Brexit and the Economy got 15% each. Less important seem to be immigration (7%), safety (6%), and environment (6%).
Like the idea of an election?
A strong majority of 58% said that they are either excited about the election, or that they are interested. 31%, however, think that an election should not have been called at this point. This is quite a polarized set of opinions!
Have you made up your mind yet?
67% of respondents say that they have decided already how to vote. 26% don’t know yet – quite a significant group that politicians will want to sway over the next week until the election.
Who will you vote for?
It can be sensitive to ask which party a person intends to vote for – after all, in a democracy the vote is secret. Our reporters asked very gently though, to tell them if they want, which party they believe would do the best job in power. These were the answers (ranked)
Conservative/Tories | 45% |
Liberal Democrats | 14% |
Labour Party | 9% |
Green Party | 5% |
UKIP | 0% |
18% say they don’t know, and 8% that they don’t like any of the parties above.
After this poll took place, Labour has done increasingly well in nation-wide surveys, and a lot has yet to happen in the campaign, such as important TV-interviews with the party leaders. Next Thursday, we’ll know how correct the Newsnuggets poll turned out to be. If you want to share your own opinion, take our poll here.
By: Cecilia, on behalf of Barnes Newsnuggets