Project 2010: public opinion survey Prepared for: London Councils Date: May 2008.

Project 2010: public opinion survey

Prepared for: London Councils

Date: May 2008

Overview

Telephone survey to understand local political awareness of Londoners and the ways in which London councils engage and communicate with their communities. More specifically:

- ascertain what residents know about their local council

- determine whether residents would consider standing for election and why/ why not

- assess how well local councils engage/ communicate with residents.

Campaign aims to promote community engagement and awareness of local councils and councillors, and to encourage people to stand in 2010 borough elections.

Survey results presented at 2008 London Councils Summit on July 12.

Methodology

1,001 ten-minute telephone interviews.

Conducted with a representative sample of London residents aged 18 and over.

Demographic quotas set to ensure responses broadly in line with Census data for Greater London (specifically: age, gender, social class, housing tenure, ethnic origin and inner/ outer London).

Interviews conducted by Ipsos MORI in-house telephone call centre, using a Random Digit Dialling (RDD) method and ‘CATI’ approach (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing).

Key messages

Londoners have relatively low levels of awareness about their council and local politics…

There is a relatively even split between those who feel they know their council and those who don’t: 44% versus 55% - consistent with national findings.

Two in five (42%) residents know which political party is in control of their council

But, only 6% know the name of their local elected leader.

With the exception of rubbish collection and recycling, Londoners are unsure about which responsibilities fall under the remit of their local council.

Almost half (49%) think their council runs the police service and 45% the local hospital. Three in five (60%) think the council is responsible for the Freedom Pass.

Londoners are unsure of a councillor’s role, but think they do a good job on the whole…

Londoners are unsure about the role of their local councillor – most (71%) understand they are paid, but a third (32%) think they must have a qualification, and half (52%) think that they must represent a political party.

On the whole, Londoners are more likely to think that councillors do a good job (45% say they are doing a very or fairly good job versus 27% a fairly or very poor job).

Around a quarter of Londoners are interested in becoming a local councillor, but time and information – and making a difference – are an issue…

Almost three in ten (29%) Londoners have volunteered time to a club, society or charity in the last 12 months.

A similar proportion (31%) have taken action to solve a local problem, such as write to a local newspaper, attend a protest meeting or contact a local councillor or MP.

Around a quarter (24%) of Londoners are interested in becoming a local councillor.

Lack of time is the key factor which might prevent people from standing as a councillor (cited by 36% of respondents).

Feeling they could make a difference is the most important factor which would encourage them to stand - half (50%) cite this.

A third of respondents (34%) also want better information about what is involved in being a local councillor.

Main findings

Relatively even split between those who feel they know their local council vs. those who don’t know…

Combination Score

A great deal/a fair

amount44%

Not very much/nothin

g at all55%

Net value -10%Not very

much

A great deal

Don’t know 1%

Nothing at all

A fair amount

Q. How much, if anything, do you feel you know about your local London borough council?

Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

38%

44%

11% 6%

Knowledge about council

Older people are more likely to say they feel they know their local council a great deal/ fair amount; contrasted with young people who are more likely to say not very much/ nothing at all.

White respondents are more informed than those from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds; 47% versus 36% say they feel they know their local council a great deal/ fair amount.

Overall, findings consistent with national 2006 figures.

55

52

61

44

47

38

%Not very much/nothing at all % a fair amount/a great deal

Informed levels are consistent with findings from nationwide survey in 2006… Q. How much, if anything, do you feel you know about your local London borough council?*

Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008.Audit of Political Engagement: face to face survey of 1,490 adults aged 18+ in the UK, 23-28 November 2006; 1,976 adults aged 18+ in the UK, 11-17 December 2003. * NB In 2006 & 2003 wording ‘ how much, if anything, do you know about your local council?’

2008 (London only)

2006 (UK wide)

2003 (UK wide)

Net fair amount/

great deal

-10%

-5%

-23%

Just under two-thirds of Londoners think they know which political party is in control of the Council … and of those, two-thirds genuinely do…

63%

35%

1%

Q. Can you tell me which party is in control of your

local London borough council?

66%

34%

Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008 Base: 656 who say they know which political party is

in control

Q. Do you know which political party is in control of your local London borough

council?

Yes

No – don’t know

No – no overall control

Answer correctparty

Don’t answercorrect party

Only one in five Londoners say they know the name of their local leader… of those who say they know, only one third actually identify the right person…

20%

80%

Q. Can you tell me the name of the person who is local

elected leader of your local London borough council?

33%

67%

Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008 Base: 205 who say they know name of local leader

Q. Do you know the name of the local elected leader of your local London borough

council?

Yes

No

Answer correctleader

Don’t answercorrect leader

33%

55%

13%

Correct Leader

Other

Don't Know

And over half identify the wrong person altogether – local MPs being a popular wrong answer. Only 6% of Londoners overall know the name of their local elected leader…

Base: 205 who say they know the name of local elected leader, 11-18 April 2008

Q. Can you tell me the name of the person who is local elected leader of your local London borough council?

Answered correct leader 6%

Don’t answer correct leader 94%


Over two in five Londoners think that councillors do a good job…

Combination Score

Good 45%

Poor 27%

Net good +17%

Neither good

nor poor

Very good

Don’t know (5%)

Very poor

Fairly good

Q. Overall, do you think councillors generally do a good or bad job?


38%

24%

15%

12%7%

Fairly poor

Residents who are more informed about the council are more positive about councillors…

Q. Overall do you think councillors generally do a good or bad job?


NET GOOD = +38%

NET GOOD = -8%

18

39

56

31

Informed

Notinformed

% saying Poor job % saying Good job

49

45

97

60

42

46

29

8

8

1

11

3

The police service

Your local hospital

Rubbish collection andrecycling

The Freedom Pass

% Yes % No % Not sure/ Don't know

With the exception of rubbish collection & recycling, Londoners are unsure about which responsibilities fall under their local council’s remit…

Q. I am going to read out a list of services and, for each one, I would like you to tell me whether you think it is the responsibility of you local London borough Council or not…


45

39

58

52

49

97

61

96

The police service

Your local hospital

Rubbish collection &recycling

The Freedom Pass

% Yes - Inner London% Yes - Outer London

And, residents in Outer London are more likely to think responsibilities fall under the council…


Q. I am going to read out a list of services and, for each one, I would like you to tell me whether you think it is the responsibility of you local London borough Council or not…

71

32

52

21

62

8

7

543

Paid for beinga councillor

Must passappropriatequalification

Mustrepresent

political party

% True % False Don't know

There is some confusion about the role of a councillor…Q. I am going to read out a list of statements about the role of a councillor, and I would like you to tell me which you would say are true and which are false? Local councillors…


1

2

29

99

98

71

Been a local councillor

Been a school governor

Volunteered time to a localclub, society or charity

% Yes % No

More than a quarter have volunteered in their local community in the previous 12 months…

Q. In the last 12 months have you done any of the following?


*Citizenship Survey: face to face survey of 2,200 adults aged 16+ in England and Wales, 2007

1%

% yesNational 2007

1%

n/a

Of those who have volunteered….

They are more likely to be from higher social classes (38% of ABs have volunteered in the last 12 months compared to 26% of C1s and 23% for C2DEs).

And, are owner-occupiers (32% compared to 29% overall).

They are more likely to have taken action to solve a local problem in the last 12 months (42% who have taken action have also volunteered compared to 23% who have not taken action).

Around a quarter are interested in becoming a local councillor…

Combination Score

Interested 24%

Not interested 75%

Net interested - 51%

Very interested

Don’t know (1%)

Not at all interested

Fairly interested

Q. How interested, if at all, would you be in becoming a local councillor, either now or in the future?

Base: 996 who have not been a councillor in previous 12 months, 11-18 April 2008

19%

22%

53%

6%

Not very interested

Those already active are more interested in becoming a councillor….

Those who are most interested in becoming a councillor are already active in the community:

- 33% of those who have been a school governor/ volunteered in the last 12 months say they are interested in becoming a councillor compared to 21% who have not been active

- 33% of those who have taken action to solve a local problem are interested compared to 21% who have not taken action.

… and views vary by demographics too… but what people say and what people do are different…

Those of working age (18-64 yrs) more likely to say they are interested than older people (65+yrs).

While there is little difference across the various age groups, younger people appear more interested than older people; 32% of 18-34 year olds say they are interested compared to 11% aged 65+. They are more likely to be fairly interested rather than very interested.

Residents from BME backgrounds say they are more interested than their White counterparts in becoming a councillor; 39% compared to 18%. Even though they are less likely to feel informed or know what their council does.

And, social renters also appear more interested than owner occupiers; 31% versus 21%.

We should treat the figures with some caution - we know from previous research that what people say they are willing to do in principle and what they do in practice can be different. To illustrate, most people support local area forums, but many fewer SAY they personally want to get involved, and in practice even fewer - only a tiny proportion - ever do…

82%

6%

12%

Previous research illustrates how there can be a mismatch between support in principle versus actual commitment…

Don’t know/no opinion

Yes, support

No, oppose

Support Involvement

Q In principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the borough?

26%

54%

18%2%

No

DependsYes

Q And would you personally be interested in getting involved?

Don’t know

Base: All respondents who support the idea (835)Base: All residents (1,021)

Actual Proportion - 2

%

36

19

11

7

4

4

4

4

Over a third would be put off standing as a councillor because of a lack of time…


Q. What might prevent you from standing as a local councillor?

Lack of time/too busy/other commitments/priorities

Not interested/lack inclination/too boring

Lack knowledge/understanding/ education/ability

Too old

Poor health/disability

Age (unspecified)

Apathy/laziness/can’t be bothered/lack of motivation

Disillusioned/ cynical/ politicians untrustworthy

%Top answers cited:

36

19

11

7

4

4

4

4

32

18

6

4

3

4

6

5

% 2008 (London) % 2006 (UK)

And this is the same in London as across the UK…

Q. What might prevent you from standing as a local councillor?*

Base: 996 who have not been a councillor in previous 12 months, 11-18 April 2008Audit of Political Engagement: face to face survey of 1,490 adults aged 18+ in the UK, 23-28 November 2006* NB Wording for 2006 survey ‘What factors, if any, prevent you from getting more involved in politics?’

Lack of time/too busy/other commitments

Not interested/lack inclination/too boring

Lack knowledge/understanding/education

Too old

Age (unspecified)

Apathy/laziness/can’t be bothered/lack of motivationDisillusioned/ cynical/ politicians untrustworthy

Poor health/disability

Top answers cited:

Making a difference and better information are most likely to

encourage Londoners to stand as a councillor…

Feeling they could make a difference is the most important factor which would encourage Londoners to stand as a local councillor - half (50%) cite this.

A third (34%) also want better information about what is involved in being a local councillor.

Better information is even more important to younger people and those from BME backgrounds, e.g. 46% of 18-34 year olds and 44% of BME cite this as a factor.

Q. I am now going to read out a list of factors which might encourage people to stand as a local councillor, and I would like you to tell me which one of the following applies to you. You may choose up to three factors.

50%

34%

28%

24%

20%

20%

16%

8%

4%

Half of Londoners say they would be encouraged to stand as a councillor if they thought they could make a difference…


Feeling I could make a difference

Having more info about what was involved

Having more spare time

Knowing I would be paid regular income

If politicians had better reputation

Being given time off by my employer

Not feeling I had to join political party

None of these

Nothing would encourage me

Q. Of the two or three factors you mentioned, which one would most encourage you to stand as a local councillor?

45%

16%

12%

10%

7%

7%

4%

Of all the factors, making a difference is the most important one…

Base: 628 who have not been a local councillor in the previous 12 months and mentioned 2/3 things, 11-18 April 2008

Feeling I could make a difference

Having more info about what was involved

Having more spare time

Knowing I would be paid regular income

If politicians had better reputation

Being given time off by my employer

Not feeling I had to join political party

31% 34% 34%29%

24%

34%

26%29%

33%

25%

Almost a third of Londoners have taken action to solve a local problem… as with previous research they are shown to be white, middles class…Q. In the past twelve months have you taken any action in an attempt to solve a local problem, such as write to a local newspaper, attend a protest meeting or contact your local councillor or MP?


SOCIAL CLASS TENURE ETHNICITY

31%

15%

26%

33%38%

34%

ALL 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

… and they are shown to be older…

Q. In the past twelve months have you taken any action in an attempt to solve a local problem, such as write to a local newspaper, attend a protest meeting or contact your local councillor or MP?

Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008AGE

46%

53 47

% Informed % Not informed

We know from previous surveys about half of Londoners feel their council keeps them informed…

Q. How well does your local London borough council keep you informed?*

Base: London BVPI figures based on collated date from London Boroughs 2003/04: 37,029 adults in Greater London*NB. BVPI question wording ‘how informed does your council keep residents about the services and benefits it provides’.

Net informed

%

+6

BVPI results for London 2003/04

Better informed residents do not necessarily know more about the local politics…

Residents who say their council keeps them well informed are more likely to think that councillors do a good job than those who are less informed (56% versus 31%)

BUT…

… they are no more likely to know the party in charge or the local leader

… nor, generally speaking, the services which come under the council’s remit

… nor, the role of a local councillors

… and, they are no more likely to be interested in being a councillor

Conclusions

There appears to be an encouraging proportion of Londoners who could be interested in standing as a local councillor (24% interested).

Londoners who are already active are more likely to be interested in standing.

But, lack of time is the key concern Londoners have about standing, and is something that could also be addressed through better communication.

It may also be necessary to acknowledge that what people say they are willing to do in principle and what they say they would do in practice can be different.

More information about what is involved, including information which helps people to understand that they can make a difference if they stand as a councillor, are the things most likely to encourage people to get more involved in local politics.

Related to this, the findings suggest communication about the role of local councils/ councillors more generally is lacking at present. Knowledge of local political parties/ elected leaders is fairly limited, as is knowledge of councils’/ councillors’ roles.

Sample

Sample % London %

1,001 5,553,509

Gender Male 48 48

Female 52 52

Age 18-24 13 13

25-34 25 25

35-54 35 36

55+ 27 27

Class A 5 5

B 27 27

C1 31 31

C2 15 15

DE 21 22

Sample % London %

1,001 5,553,509

Working Status Working full-time 46 46

Not working full-time 54 54

Region Inner London 39 39

Outer London 61 61

Tenure Owned outright 22 22

Being bought on mortgage 33 34

Rented council/ housing ass’n 26 26

Rented private/Other 18 18

Ethnicity White 70 71

BME 29 29

Technical note

Results are based on 1,001 completed telephone interviews.

Fieldwork was carried out between 11th and 18th April 2008.

Where results do not sum to 100, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of don’t knows/not stated.

Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated.

An asterisk (*) represents a value of less than one half or one percent, but not zero.

This report refers to ‘local London borough council’ in some of the questions. During fieldwork questions included the actual name of the respondents’ specific London borough council (e.g. ‘London Borough of Camden’).

This report refers to “net” figures. This represents the balance of opinion on attitudinal questions and provides a useful means of comparing the data for a number of variables. E.g. in the case of a “net interested” figure, this represents the percentage interested in a particular issue, less the percentage not interested. For example, if 24% of Londoners are interested in becoming a councillor and 75% are not interested, the “net interested” figure is -51%.

Data weighted to known demographic variables and for consistency with other relevant data collected by Ipsos MORI.

Guide to statistical reliability

The variation between the sample results and the “true” values (the findings that would have been obtained if everyone had returned a questionnaire) can be predicted from knowledge of the sample sizes on which the results are based and the number of times that a particular answer is given.

For example, for all Londoners, on a question where 50% of the people respond with a particular answer, the chances are 95 in 100 that this result would not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3 percentage points.

NB: Strictly speaking the tolerances shown here apply only to random samples; in practice good quality quota sampling has been found to be as accurate

Approximate sampling tolerances applicable to percentages at or near these levels

10% or 90%

30% or

70%

50%

2 3 3

Size of sample which survey result is based (1,001)

Guide to statistical reliability - cont.

When results are compared between sub groups (e.g. males versus females), different results may be obtained. The difference may be “real”, or it may occur by chance (because not everyone completed the survey). To test if the difference is a real one - i.e. if it is “statistically significant” - we have to know the size of the samples, the percentage giving a certain answer and the degree of confidence chosen.

For example, if 50% of males (base size: 478) give a particular answer, and 52% of females (base size: 523) give the same answer, there is not a statistically significant difference between the responses of the two groups.

If however, 57% of females give the same answer, then this is a statistically significant difference (since there is more than a six percentage point difference between the two).

In the computer tables the crossbreaks have been tested as to whether they contain statistically significant differences.

Differences required for significance at or near these levels

10% or 90%

30% or 70%

50%

478 males vs. 523 females

4 6 6

612 Outer London vs. 389 Inner London

4 6 6

Further information

For further information contact:

[email protected]

or tel. 020 7347 3000

Project 2010: public opinion survey Prepared for: London Councils Date: May 2008.

Documents

Transcript of Project 2010: public opinion survey Prepared for: London Councils Date: May 2008.