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Londoners and Local Government

Londoners and Local Government. Ben Page, Chairman Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute ben.page@ipsos.com. Only one in twenty know much about you…. Q. How much, if anything, do you feel you know about your local London Borough council?. Don’t know 1%. A great deal. Nothing at all.

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Londoners and Local Government

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  1. Londoners and Local Government Ben Page, Chairman Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute ben.page@ipsos.com

  2. Only one in twenty know much about you… Q. How much, if anything, do you feel you know about your local London Borough council? Don’t know 1% A great deal Nothing at all A fair amount Not very much Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

  3. Massive confusion over your responsibilities…. 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… Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

  4. Just under two-thirds of Londoners think they know which political party is in control of the Council … but fewer than half actually do Q. Can you tell me which party is in control of your local London Borough council? Don’t answer correct party Answer correct party Q. Do you know which political party is in control of your local London Borough council? No – no overall control No – don’t know Yes 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

  5. Only one in five Londoners SAY they know the name of their local leader… only one in fourteen actually do Q. Can you tell me the name of the person who is local elected leader of your local London Borough council? Don’t answer correct leader Answer correct leader Q. Do you know the name of the local elected leader of your local London Borough council? Yes No Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008 Base: 205 who say they know name of local leader

  6. BUT THEY DO LIKE YOU……

  7. London beats the rest of England Q How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way your local council runs things? Satisfied (BV3) County Average Districts London Boroughs Year surveyed Base: BVPI 2006 (149 Single/Upper Tier authorities and 74 District Ipsos MORI client authorities)

  8. But its inner London that’s going ahead.... Q How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way your local council runs things? Satisfied (BV3) Inner Outer Year surveyed

  9. Promoting the interests of local residents: suburban residents less impressed % agree a great deal/to some extent Inner Outer Base: BVPI 2006 (33 London Boroughs)

  10. Over two in five Londoners think that councillors do a good job… Q. Overall, do you think councillors generally do a good or bad job? Don’t know (5%) Very poor Very good Fairly poor Fairly good Neither good nor poor Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

  11. Trust who? Q Now I will read out a list of different people. For each, would you tell me whether you generally trust them to tell the truth or not? Doctors Teachers Professors Judges Clergymen TV/newsreaders Scientists The police Ordinary man/woman in street Pollsters Civil servants Local Councillors Managers in the NHS TU officials Managers in local government Business leaders % trust Government ministers Journalists Politicians generally Base: 2,141 British adults aged 15+, Feb 2003

  12. In August 1944 after DDay Q Do you think British politicians are out merely for themselves, for their party or to do their best for their country? Don’t know Their country Themselves Their party Base: c. 1,000 British adults, August 1944 Source: Gallup

  13. And at least we’re not German! Q: Please tell me on a score of 0-10 how much you personally trustyour country’s politicians Mean score Spain UK Italy* France Germany ESS total average Source: European Social Survey 2004 (*2002). Base c2,000 interviews in each country

  14. But we shouldn’t sneer too much….

  15. What about councillors’ motives? Q In general, whose interests do you think councillors put first? Don’t know The local area’s interests Their own Their party’s Their friends’ and families’ Base: 1,027 English 15+, 31 May-18 July 2005 Source: MORI/Standards Board for England

  16. And those who know most like you most…. Q. Overall do you think councillors generally do a good or bad job? NET GOOD = +38% NET GOOD = -8% Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

  17. But deeply confused about what the role entails… 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… Base: 1,001 adults aged 18+ in Greater London, 11 -18 April 2008

  18. Around a quarter SAY THEY are interested in becoming a local councillor… Q. How interested, if at all, would you be in becoming a local councillor, either now or in the future? Don’t know (1%) Very interested Not at all interested Fairly interested Not very interested Base: 996 who have not been a councillor in previous 12 months, 11-18 April 2008

  19. But what they say and what they DO can be different…. Q And would you personally be interested in getting involved? Don’t know Depends Yes No Base: All respondents who support the idea (835) Q In principle, would you support or oppose extending Community Partnerships to other parts of the Borough? Involvement Support Don’t know/no opinion No, oppose Actual Proportion - 2% Yes, support Base: All residents (1,021)

  20. 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 Apathy/laziness/can’t be bothered/lack of motivation Disillusioned/ cynical/ politicians untrustworthy Too young Base: 996 who have not been a councillor in previous 12 months, 11-18 April 2008

  21. Half of Londoners say they would be encouraged to stand as a councillor if they thought they could make a difference… 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. 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 Base: 996 who have not been a councillor in previous 12 months, 11-18 April 2008

  22. Of all the factors, making a difference is the most important one… Q. Of the two or three factors you mentioned, which one would most encourage you to stand as a local councillor? 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 Base: 628 who have not been a local councillor in the previous 12 months and mentioned 2/3 things, 11-18 April 2008

  23. 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?* BVPI results for London 2003/04 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’.

  24. But 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 are no more likely to know the party in charge or the local leader or 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 • So perhaps we aren't communicating about the right things!!!!! • A duty to promote local democracy??

  25. Conclusions • Despite little trust in politicians, more faith in local councillors • Very low awareness and confusion • Communications could do more to promote the role, impact and identities of London politicians • Huge uphill struggle to boost relevance –Mayoral election shows that interest goes up when real issues are at stake • Political parties that are energetic, imaginative and creative do best… • Over to you…

  26. Thank you! ben.page@ipsos.com

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