And so the first week ends...

This week’s blogs have included what polls aren’t telling you (and why the don’t knows may be crucial). Or when the first time Labour asked its supporters to design a poster (the answer is the distinctly pre-internet 1908). Why the newspapers aren’t powerful in the way everyone thinks (although they might be powerful in other ways). Or why corruption isn’t as electorally damaging as everyone thinks (although it’s harmful in other ways).

Following Sir Michael Caine’s appearance at the Conservatives launch of their youth volunteering scheme (‘Tories, Sir, thousands of ‘em...), we carried a piece on the chequered history of youth engagement. Plus the most rebellious Parliament of the post-war era draws to a close and why the Demos pamphlet calling for votes at 16 was sloppy and disingenuous.

We also carried perhaps the naffest poll of the election so far – snog, marry, avoid: the prime ministerial verdict – but only to draw attention to something much more serious.

This week, coming up amongst other stuff: independent MPs, the prime ministerial debates, party election broadcasts, and much much more. Who said elections are boring?

Professor Philip Cowley

Snog, marry, avoid

It’s one of the key questions of the election so far. So we’re happy to clarify the position of women aged 25-34 in social groups C1/2 and D - the ‘Lambrini Ladies’ – in regard to the vital political question of Snog, Marry or Avoid?


Gordon Brown

Avoid 85%

Snog 9%

Marry 4%

Don’t know who he is: 3%


David Cameron

Avoid 68%

Snog 15%

Marry 16%

Don’t know who he is: 2%


Nick Clegg

Avoid 66%

Snog 16%

Marry 7%

Don’t know who he is: 11%

So: Nick Clegg is the most snoggable. David Cameron is the one to marry. And the Prime Minister is the one to avoid.

The absolute figures for Nick Clegg are somewhat lower, given that just over 10 percent of respondents didn’t know who he was. Mind you, there was also some 3% who didn’t know who the Prime Minister was either...

There is a more serious side to this – honest, there is – and it’ll follow shortly.

The survey was carried out by Opinion Matters, 24/3/10-6/4/10, who spoke to 1416 women in C1, C2 and D social groups; the data reported here come from the 430 in the 25-34 age group.

Professor Philip Cowley