A new ICM poll commissioned by the No2ID campaign is the first to show a majority of people opposed to the introduction of ID cards. I normally advise some caution on polls commissioned by pressure groups trying to push an agenda, but No2ID’s approach has been admirable - over the last year they have periodically commissioned ICM to ask a straight identically worded question to produce solid trend data.
The latest poll shows that 47% of people think the introduction of ID cards would be a good idea, 51% think they would be a bad idea - a straight 5% swing compared to the last ICM/No2ID poll in February and the first time (apart from a very strangely worded BPIX question a year ago) that a poll has shown a majority opposed.
ICM also asked about attitudes towards the National Identity Scheme and the proposal that “everyone is required to attend an interview to give personal details about themselves for use by the police, tax authorities, and all other government departments.” 41% of people thought this was a good idea, 56% thought it a bad idea.
UPDATE: Lovely response from the government in the Evening Standard: “a Home Office spokesman said the poll might have given a more positive result if it had focused on the benefits of ID cards”. Yes, the poll almost certainly would have given a more positive response if, instead of using neutral wording, it have used leading text extolling the virtues of the ID cards.
9 Responses
I like many people I presume, have mixed feelings about ID Cards. The only way for this to be resolved is by information.
What will be on / in the card.
What will it do for me - cutting down on paperwork reqd.
How it will be implemented.
What penalties will be imposed for lost cards.
Initial Cost, running costs.
And any potential problems that there might be.
Give us the information and let the people come to a reasoned decision.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:29 pmTim,
July 31st, 2006 at 3:43 amAnswers to all your questions can be found at No2ID:
http://www.no2id.net/
[…] 4. YouGov’s UK Polling Report commends NO2ID’s open and unbiased approach to opinion polling —http://www.ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/279#comments […]
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