Public opinion on 42 days unchanged by the Davis by-election

Millsee

Perhaps if PHI5000 were asked unloaded questions, the result might be different.

"Do you agree with locking up for 42 days terrorists who could go on to murder your children, or do you support terrorism?"

The fact we are still talking about it proves Davis' point. We're not talking even about Keith Vaz's "reward" of a new office any more, and that was only last week!

Less than 42 days ago, this happened: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7429638.stm

Seem a long time ago? You're damn right it is!

Carol-Ann

When he started talking about doing away with CCTV and scaling back the DNA database, that was it all was lost. 42 days, CCTV and DNA database are POPULAR (especially with women), like it or not.

wonderfulforhisage

Churchill was a figure of fun between the wars. He had the courage of his convictions just as DD has.

More power to DD's elbow say I.

Silent Hunter

Perhaps their asking the wrong people.

I think I would prefer to trawl the blogs and get a rounded opinion of the Davis effect.
I find that the reaction is generally positive.
It is also clear that Labours decision not to fight the seat has just reinforced the public perception that Brown is running away from this fight knowing that it brings into question his leadership qualities (or rather complete lack of them) yet again.
AND, yet again, he is found wanting.

perdix

A recent ICM poll showed most against 42 days. Are PH voters part of the Westminster Village?

Gareth

This seems to be at odds with the Joseph Rowntree / ICM poll Iain Dale has commented on.

deborah

According to PoliticsHome, "The politically balanced panel of 5000 regular voters have been asked every working day whether they have positive or negative feelings towards David Davis."

Asked the same question every working day? No, of course this wouldn't affect their views...entirely representative.....

Patrick

Once again the Westminster bubble gets it wrong. I would rather believe the Rowntree/ICM poll.

The lack of interest is perpetuated by the MSM. I guess that they find principle rather difficult to understand.

Ben Stevenson

Sky News report that "a poll for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust has found 61% believe six weeks is too long"

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/42-Day-Detention-Poll-Finds-Nearly-Two-Thirds-Are-Against-Government-Plans/Article/200807215028554

JL

Mmmmm. It's worth noting that Yougov who run these 'polls' do not publish the full results on their website. As such they should not be considered as valid polls. Who knows what dodgy activities are going on in the background?

The Politicshome 'polls' have no credibility and should be regarded as little more than propaganda from the Westminster Village. The question is which camp is this propaganda coming from?

dilys

I said ages ago that he had misjudged people's mood and got myself accused of being a New Labourite!
The man has misjudged this and Gordon has, unfortunately, handled him well.

Fergus Pickering

Carol, what does it matter if things are popular (especially wit women)? Are they right? Anyway, where did Davis say he wanted to do away with CCTV. . He just said there was a lot of it about. DNA database. Do you support everybody being on the database. From birth? I think that's OK, or possibly OK. What is NOT OK is a database that includes anyone the police arres, whether guilty or not, but not you, Carol, or the Queen, or Gordon Brown, or all your children (if you have any) because the police have not turned their attention in your direction. Gordon Brown says hundreds of murderers and rapists have been convicted purely because of random DNA. Davis says Brown is lying. Which do you believe? Hitle was probably before your time. He's before mine just. MOST German people approvedof what he was doing (particularly the women) because he was bringing Law and Order and rounding up the dangerous terrorists (communists). MOST Germans (particularly the women) wenton supporting him until the bombs started to drop on them. Brown's not Hitler. No he isn't. He's a humourless nit-picking, vindictive fool. But who comes NEXT?

ian skidmore

If the pol is accurate we are leaping into slavery with a glad smile.
It is sufficent commentary on the poor qualit of our leadership -and it must be said commentators- that so few can get their head round the facts that the man is serious and principled

IanB

Fergus,

Brown's figures on the conviction rate from the DNA database are a statistical estimate, not fact. See: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/29/brown_dna_database_innocent_genewatch/

Marian C

Carol_Ann, As you can see from my name,I too am a woman and I have to say Carol_Ann, that I am very UNHAPPY about CCTV and having my DNA being put on any sort of database, especially in this country with its track record of losing everything from data disc to Top secret files on trains. I think your comment

'POPULAR (especially with women)like it or not'

is total nonsense; what are you basing your comment(s)on? Do you have any valid proof of this? because I can assure you Carol_Ann, that nobody has asked me! I must say that I tend to agree with Fergus' comments.

Georgina

Quelle surprise.

Why the shock? We've had endless anti-42 days campaigners given carte blanche to spew off in the mainstream media, with Shami Chakrabarti on almost every current affairs show going, why were the public going to change their mind with this pathetic by-election?

The only thing that's different today from 4 weeks ago is David Davis is now as sickening in his sanctimony as Shami Chakrabarti. How's that for a result?

Silent Hunter

OK Georgina!

I take it you're happy to be banged up for 42 days without knowing what the charge was?

I don't know of course.

Perhaps you'd like to get banged up for 42 days.

Silent Hunter

Oh Dear!

Have I upset Georgina?

Perhaps she took 'banged up' as having some other connotation than I had anticipated when I wrote it. ;O)