DRIFT FROM LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26996, 3 February 1949, Page 5

DRIFT FROM LABOUR

BRITISH GALLUP POLL SURVEY LIBERAL GAINS NOTED NZPA Special Correspondent LONDON, Feb. 1. The third of the Gallup poll’s special surveys of the political state of mind of Britain since the general election, published by the News Chronicle, shows that the drift has been away from the Labour Party since early in 1946, that the Conservatives have been more “ P°P u l ar since May. 1947, and that the Liberals have recently been attracting more support. ; „ . In publishing the results of this survey, the News Chronicle, with the confounding of pollsters in America in mind, emphasises that they do not ad R remark tliat P the C British institute of Public Opinion, in spite of the remarkable accuracy with which it forecast the result of the last general election, “ flatly declines to lay a premature wreath on Labour’s grave. Sharp swings of public opinion, says the News Chronicle, can occur within a week, let alone a year, before an election takes place. In 1946, a “voting chart showed that the parties would secure the following percentages of votes: —Labour, 52 1; Conservative. 335; Liberals, 11; others, 3. Those who had not made up their minds were excluded. In January, 1949, the percentages were: Labour, 40; Conservative, 44: Liberal, 14; others. 2. „ ... It is noted that the Governments support in the trade unions is only about 50 per cent. The Conservatives, it is stated, have gained something of what Labour has lost, but are themselves losing at a growing rate to the Liberals, particularly where young people are concerned.