Exclusive poll
Two in five shun three main political parties
After 10 days of headlines that have devastated Parliament, The IoS reveals the strength of the public revolt against mainstream politics
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Independent Minds
Disenchantment among the British electorate with the three main parties is at a record high after 10 days of revelations about the expenses claims of the nation's MPs.
Two in five say they will refuse to vote or select one of the minor parties, such as the Greens or Ukip, rather than support the Tories, Labour or the Liberal Democrats, a ComRes poll shows.
The figures presented on the front page today are percentages for the entire electorate, and so include the 23 per cent who say they will not vote in the Westminster elections. They also include 17 per cent who will consider voting for a minor party – and that could prove a big opportunity for the Greens and Ukip at the forthcoming European polls, where they would be expected to do much better than in the first-past-the-post system.
The 40 per cent for "none of the above" is compared with 31 per cent for the Tories, 16 per cent for Labour and 13 per cent for the Lib Dems.
Among those absolutely certain to vote, the figures are even more stark – 64 per cent back "none of the above". Of these, 54 per cent are unlikely to vote and 10 per cent back other parties. This would leave the Conservatives on 18 per cent, Labour on 10 per cent and the Lib Dems on 8 per cent, suggesting there may be a record low turnout at the next election.
On the traditional state of the parties measure, Labour slides five points on last month to another record low – 21 per cent – with the Tories also slipping five, though well out in front on 41 per cent. The Lib Dems remain at 18 per cent. In an election, this would give David Cameron a majority of 152.
The slump of Labour and the Tories since the ComRes poll for The Independent last month underscores how the main parties are being punished for the expenses scandal. And a supplementary question asked of voters suggests that 43 per cent will consider voting for a minor party in the European elections next month. Other polls suggest that the Greens are set to double their 6 per cent of last time round.
Andrew Hawkins, chief executive of ComRes, said: "I can't remember any time when the minor parties were at anything like this level."
In an attempt to regain the initiative and restore trust, Gordon Brown will today issue a veiled threat to ministers whose expenses are under investigation that they could be sacked. The Prime Minister warns that any minister who is found to have "morally" or technically broken the rules "will not serve" with his government. He adds that Labour MPs found to be cheating will be deselected.
The Metropolitan Police has announced that it will this week consider launching criminal investigations into MPs' expenses claims. Downing Street sources refused to comment on the "scoping" inquiries into several MPs, including Chancellor Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon and the employment minister Tony McNulty.
The Speaker, Michael Martin, will also come under intense pressure to carry the can for the scandal, with friends suggesting he might announce his intention to stand down before the next election to try to appease critics. A motion of no confidence is expected to be tabled by MPs as early as tomorrow. His former media adviser, John Stonborough, told The Sunday Times last night that Mr Martin ruled with a "reign of terror" that allegedly held up a solution to the expenses crisis.
Yesterday Martin Bell, the anti-sleaze campaigner, suggested he might stand for election against an MP hit by the scandal, possibly the Speaker. There were reports last night that even the Queen has made clear to Mr Brown her unhappiness at the crisis. And an investigation by the IoS has discovered that Britain's MPs are taking advantage of another allowances "loophole" that lets them channel taxpayers' money into the network of local constituency associations around the country. More than 100 MPs are using expenses to pay their often impoverished constituency parties thousands of pounds a year for facilities and services such as rent and secretarial help. The MPs, who include Mr Cameron and nine members of his Shadow Cabinet, say they are paying for legitimate business services and that the arrangements have the blessing of House of Commons authorities.
In the ComRes poll, 50 per cent disagree with the statement that "most MPs are honest and have been let down by the greed of a minority", while 46 per cent agree. Six out of 10 voters believe Mr Cameron has dealt with the expenses issue better than Mr Brown.
Yet there is bad news for Labour MPs hoping for a fresh start under a candidate such as Alan Johnson, with just 32 per cent of people agreeing that the Health Secretary would be a better Prime Minister than Mr Brown.
The Sunday Telegraph today printed more revelations, including the expenses of the Tory MP Julian Lewis, who claimed more than £7,000 for redecorating his second home and installing new kitchen appliances. The MP for New Forest East denied any wrongdoing and said he would be "astonished" if an internal party audit ordered by Mr Cameron would judge any of his claims unreasonable and demand he return the cash.
Labour MP David Chaytor became the second in his party to be suspended, following Elliot Morley's downfall last week, after he admitted claiming £13,000 in mortgage interest payments for a mortgage that had been repaid. Mr Chaytor said he had made an "unforgivable error" and apologised unreservedly.
A ComRes poll of European voting intentions for the Sunday Express, commissioned by Ukip, put the Tories on 28 per cent, Labour on 20 and the Lib Dems on 14. Ukip were on 15, the Greens on 11 and the BNP on 4 per cent. And a BPIX/Mail on Sunday survey of general election voting intentions put the Tories on 42 per cent and Labour down at 20 per cent.
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Comments
Well, what do Labour MP's think they have been doing for the last 12 years since 1997. They have passed a ton of new laws, rules and regulations that would ever more regulate us, tax us, spy on us, patronise us and generally control every aspect of our lives.
Gordon Brown said last week that the media are picking on him and picking on Labour, well, news for you perhaps, but you are the mob that has been picking on us, the public, incessantly for 12 years. Now it is our turn, to pick on you.
Why do you have gold plated pensions, when you stole from our pensions.
Why do you give tax inspectors massive new powers, when you vote to exempt yourselves from the tax man.
Why do you stop us from getting 'perks' and expenses when you are all on the take.
Why do you insist on putting innocent people on the national DNA database, when you make yourselves immune from laws that would get you arrested and DNA taken, so called 'parliamentary privilege' and you all keep saying 'no RULES have been broken' in this expenses debacle. For us that would translate to 'LAW has been broken'.
Why can you simply pay back the amount you got via deception, when we would have the tax man investigate us for the last 20 years of tax returns in the case of fraud. The tax man would charge us interest and up to 100% penalties, so that we would have to pay back double.
Why can you say 'sorry' where we would get arrested and jailed.
Why do you pass the Freedom of Information Act, that we, the public follow, when you override it by voting against it when it comes to releasing your dodgy expenses.
I probably missed loads of others from the list. I am not denying that hypocrisy did not exist before 1997, but since 1997 it has been so clear-cut and in your face hypocrisy. Gordon Brown and Labour must get this, or are they pretending not to get it as they are so ashamed that they have been rumbled.
One more to add to the list above:
Why do you keep telling us, 'if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear' about the national ID cards, whilst you are trying to suppress your dodgy expenses? If you got nothing to hide about your expenses you got nothing to fear.
Again, it's the hypocrisy of it all. I don't recall the hypocrisy reading being this high before 1997, however, I clearly remember the Tory party being corrupt before 1997. There is a subtle difference.
THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT MORE CORRUPT BUT LESS COMPETENT THAN THE MAFIA.
Without it they will do what they have always done: hide information, make new "laws" to protect themselves, duck until the storm is over, and, in extremis, say they are sorry, BUT THEY WILL NEVER EVER CHANGE WITHOUT CONTINUING PRESSURE.
Five years ago at the Euros we sent them a message by electing 16 UKIP meps. They ignored us. All we got back were broken Lib/Lab manifesto pledges and a cancelled Referendum.
The Euros are a free hit. It won't put the BNP in power right now. BUT our MPs will know that next year when THEIR jobs are on the line at the GE, their worst nightmare could come true - personal accountability to colleagues that aren't "one of them". Then we will see some action.
5,000,000 BNP votes on June 4th will do the job.
People, our Country needs us - let's do what's necessary.
It really should be five in five by now.
It is understandable, in the present climate of greed and sleaze, to adopt a negative attitude towards democracy, but a new Parliament must be elected and reforms implemented. It will be up to the various Party leaders to demonstrate how they have replaced various greedy MPs and how they intent to prevent future greed and sleaze. The leader that demonstrates complete reform with unblemished MPs will win the day. Integrity and ethics must return to Parliament.
The country needs Parliament to be dissolved, a General Election called so that the deep anger felt by the electorate can be expunged. They must vote.
Don't let democracy die because of apathy.
THE LABOUR PARTY ARE MORE CORRUPT BUT LESS COMPETENT THAN THE MAFIA
Anyone who votes for UKIP are voting for another branch of the BNP, I can't believe how many people are hoodwinked by these two parties, they don't ever put forward any policies, they just keep repeating xenophophic clap trap and racisim. I can assure you they will do absolutely nothing if they get in, BNP councillors once voted in do absolutely nothing to help the people who were stupid enough to vote them in.
They have done this to themselves and now it is time they gave the public a time for their say - and hold a General Election now. It is the oly way worward as we need a government that can govern - particularly at teh moment in as we go into an ever depening recession. At the moment anything they do will be looked at in terms of how it helps their own bank balances.
Oh-a very nice example of following the guidelines of the NUJ.
I expect to be at least be told the truth-or this newspaper is a bad as some wheeze issued by the searchlight 'types'
You know as well as I do, that support for the BNP is increasing exponentially.
Ten years ago,I doubt whether any letters page of any newspaper would have had postings in support of the BNP.
Now every newspaper has a substantial percentage of pro BNP postings.
Ah-but no mention of the BNP in this article.
Sush-don't mention the BNP eh!
No I'm not a member of the BNP-but I will certainly be voting for them.
You don't take the land of my ancestors off me,and make me a second class citizen in my own country.
I would be unhappy voting for the BNP because of their Economic Policies but the treatment they recieve from The Polity and The Media is a disgrace and, what is worse, it is counterproductive because it offends many people's sense of fair play.
Only those with kith and kin working for this disreputable organisation and its appendages, are unlikely not to vote--for the rest--the best result would be a headlines-blaring "NO VOTE".
Is the sub-editor on holiday? The above sentences make no sense. How can 54% of those certain to vote be unlikely to vote. And 54% of 64% is a needlessly ambiguous term. Does it refer to 54% of the total or 54% of the 64% i.e. 35%.
This level of statistical analysis wouldn't pass muster for a GCSE student, never mind professional journalists.
This business-political oligarchy which is shaping government policy is little better than that of a banana republic. Quite simply, we need a revolution, to restore integrity to politics, to restore limits on the power of business to exploit.
And let's face it, we get what we deserve. the climate of personal greed is now an old cliche from the eighties, and yet the people of the western world have carried on spinning relentlessly, all too busy with their own schemes for profit maximization.
Who pays? The weak and the powerless: the poor, either here or in other banana republics.
The revolution probably will be televized.
People ought to realize that non voting in this matter is like voting for big party. Unlike confused and furious voters ,i know which party might make a difference to the future of the planet and our descendants.
There is a direct link with greed and the dire outlook for planet earth and it s creatures. Main parties had their chance and have shown no regard for anything but themselves. i go as far as to say that they don t even care for their own offspring. Like in any business one can always look at top level when one encounters bad service and high charges. Unlike with business the abused people of this country have it in their power to change things .
There is only one party that might help us . I am all for trying out someone new. In my case ,that is the environment.
The braying of the crypto fascists on this site who believe that UKIP or BNP members would have not taken every expense that they could grab is evidence of their lack of intelligence and/or honesty.
To those 'life-long Labour' supporters now aligning themselves with the far right please give us some insight into how you ever came to be in the Labour camp anyway?
Finally for the head of the Windsor mafia to 'make it clear to Mr Brown her unhappiness at the crisis' is the rankest hypocrisy of all. Those parasites and spongers have robbed the British public of far far more than the petty cash fiddled by MPs.
If you go to the BNP web site and look at their policies, they are remarkably similar to those of the traditional Labour Party. For example, the BNP want to keep the Royal Mail in public ownership. They are opposed to the EU and want to keep the Pound Sterling and traditional Weights and Measures. You may not agree with these policies but surely it isn't too difficult to see why a lot of people - especially the traditional British Working Class (or what's left of it) - support these broadly 'Old Labour' views rather than the Blair / Brown version of things.
But what does a nation do if more than half the population vote this way?
We are blessed with a Constitutional Monarch who is our Head of State. Therefore in this case the Monarch will appoint a Government of National Unity and this government will run for a fixed term, at the end of which fresh elections are called.
This cycle may have to be repeated until one political party gains a proper mandate to govern.
This way the true voice of the people will be heard.
Slogans and comments written on ballot papers are read out.
If you want to go further, 'ambiguous' ballot papers have to be examined by all candidates and agreed how they will be counted. Make an ambiguous mark, then write your comments
They are the same old bunch of unrecontructed thugs they always were - just with better PR.
You think that it's a police state under Labour. I don't think you have any idea how bad it would be under the BNP.