ITV News Index – Iraq Poll

METHODOLOGY: ComRes interviewed 2,062 British adults online between 22^nd and 25^th August 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

Date Published: 26 Aug 2014

Categories: Energy | International | Media | Politics | Public and communities | Technology & Telecoms

Description

COMRES / ITV NEWS POLL SHOWS OPINIONS HARDENING AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE

The latest poll conducted by ComRes for ITV News reveals that since the beheading of US journalist James Foley, public opinion appears to have hardened against Islamic State, with there being a 15 percentage point rise since last week in the proportion of Brits saying the Government should seek to defeat it in its entirety (35%, up from 20% last week). It is now the most popular potential response. 

One in four Britons (23%) say that the Government should seek to stop Islamic State making any further gains in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere, down six percentage points since last week. The proportion that say Britain should not get involved and leave the situation to run its course falls eight points to 22%. 

Nearly three quarters of Britons (72%) think Britain needs tougher anti-terrorism laws, while three in five (58%) believe the Government should focus on fighting “home grown” radicalisation rather than getting involved in Iraq and Syria. 

Three quarters (75%) think social media websites should hand over to the Government the personal details of anyone using their account to organise Islamic State activity.

 

 

DETAILED FINDINGS:

Q: How do you think the British Government should respond to Islamic State, the militant group currently operating in Iraq and Syria (formerly known as ISIS)? In your answer, please take into account the level of military action needed to achieve each (i.e. using forces on the ground, airstrikes etc.)

Statement	%
Should seek to defeat Islamic State in its entirety	35% (+15)
Should seek to stop Islamic State making any further gains in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere	23% (-6)
Should not get involved and leave the situation to run its course	22% (-8)
Don’t know	20% (-1)

Base: All GB adults (n=2,062). Numbers in brackets are changes from last weekend (16^th-18^thAugust).

Q. Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements?

 

Statement	Agree	Disagree	Don’t know
Social media websites should hand over to the Government the personal details of anyone using their account to organise Islamic State activity	75%	8%	17%
Britain needs tougher anti-terrorism laws	72%	12%	16%
People using social networking websites like Facebook to promote Islamic State should have their accounts suspended	71%	10%	19%
Instead of engaging in Iraq and Syria, the British Government’s main focus should be on preventing radicalisation inside the UK	58%	15%	26%
It is better that Islamic State militants be allowed to continue using social media where they can be monitored, than to stop them using it altogether	28%	35%	38%
The revelations of internet spying by Edward Snowden last year shows that governments should not have access to private information on the web, whatever the website is being used for	25%	36%	38%
Military action in Iraq and Syria is likely to help prevent “home grown” terrorism in the UK	23%	44%	32%

 

Base: All GB adults (n=2,062).

 

METHODOLOGY: ComRes interviewed 2,062 British adults online between 22^nd and 25^th August 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.