Differences of opinion
The pollsters’ results vary because they use different methods
DURING the first half of this campaign there was more disagreement among the pollsters than in any election since 1979. ICM consistently reported the lowest Labour lead (15%, on average), MORI the largest (25%), while Gallup (16%) and NOP (18%) sat between the two. There has been even greater divergence outside the established club. An American company, Rasmussen Research, has regularly put the lead lower than ICM, while a daily tracking study at Essex University has been reporting leads of over 30%.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Differences of opinion”
From the June 2nd 2001 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Has the Royal Navy become too timid?
A new paper examines how its culture has changed
A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition
Turkeys vote against Christmas
David Lammy’s plan to shake up Britain’s Foreign Office
Diplomats will be tasked with growing the economy and cutting migration
Britain’s government has spooked markets and riled businesses
Tax rises were inevitable. Such a shaky start was not
Labour’s credibility trap
Who can believe Rachel Reeves?