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Political Poll for The Independent

Voting intention and political attitudes poll conducted for The Independent published 31 January 2011.

Date Published: 31 Jan 2011

Categories: Media | Politics | Public and communities | Social | Technology & Telecoms | UK

Description

Nine out of 10 people believe it is wrong for journalists to hack into the private telephone voicemail messages of celebrities and politicians, according to a ComRes survey for The Independent.
 
It shows that two in three people believe the allegations about hacking show that the newspaper industry should no longer be allowed to regulate itself. And the same proportion think that David Cameron showed poor judgement in employing Andy Coulson as the Downing Street director of communications because he had already had to resign as editor of the News of the World over the hacking scandal.

The poll shows that Labour has opened up a nine-point lead over the Conservatives, the highest since ComRes began polling for The Independent in 2006. Labour is on 43 per cent (up three points since the ComRes survey for The Independent on Sunday published on January 16); the Tories on 34 (down two points), the Liberal Democrats on 10 per cent (no change) and other parties on 13 per cent (down one point).

Findings on hacking:

It is acceptable for journalists to hack into the private telephone voicemail messages of celebrities
Agree: 5%
Disagree: 94%
Don’t know: 1%

It is acceptable for journalists to hack into the private telephone voicemail messages of politicians
Agree: 7%
Disagree: 92%
Don’t know: 1%

The allegations about telephone hacking show that the newspaper industry should no longer be allowed to regulate itself
Agree: 67%
Disagree: 24%
Don’t know: 9%

David Cameron showed poor judgment when he employed former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as Downing Street director of communications, given that Mr Coulson had previously had to resign as editor of News of the World over the phone hacking scandal
Agree: 66%
Disagree: 24%
Don’t know: 11%

ComRes telephoned 1,002 GB adults on 28– 30 January 2011.  Data were weighted by past vote recall.  ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

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