Opinion polling for the 1997 United Kingdom general election

Last updated

Contents

Prior to the 1997 general election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intentions. Results of such polls are displayed in this list.

The date range for these opinion polls is from the previous general election to the election on 1 May 1997.

Most opinion polls do not cover Northern Ireland, since its 18 seats were not contested by the political parties standing for election in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Graphical summary

By the end of 1992 Labour had established a lead over the Conservatives which lasted until the 1997 election.

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  Labour
  Conservatives
  Liberal Democrats

Results

1997

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
1 May 1997 general election 30.7%43.2%16.8%12.5%
30 AprICM/Guardian33%43%18%10%
30 AprGallup/Telegraph33%46%16%13%
30 AprMORI/Evening Standard29%47%19%18%
29 AprGallup/Telegraph31%51%13%20%
29 AprHarris/Independent31%48%15%17%
29 AprMORI/Times27%51%15%24%
29 AprNOP/Reuters28%50%14%22%
28 AprGallup/Channel 431%49%14%18%
28 AprGallup/Telegraph29%51%13%22%
27 AprGallup/Telegraph30%49%14%19%
26 AprGallup/Sunday Telegraph31%48%13%17%
25 AprGallup/Telegraph32%48%14%16%
25 AprICM/Observer32%47%16%15%
25 AprNOP/Sunday Times29%47%16%18%
24 AprGallup/Telegraph32%48%12%16%
24 AprMORI/Independent on Sunday29%53%12%24%
23 AprGallup/Telegraph30%50%12%20%
22 AprGallup/Channel 431%50%13%19%
22 AprGallup/Telegraph30%51%12%21%
22 AprMORI/Times27%48%17%21%
21 AprGallup/Telegraph32%48%12%16%
21 AprICM/Guardian37%42%14%5%
20 AprGallup/Telegraph32%48%13%16%
20 AprHarris/Independent30%48%15%18%
19 AprGallup/Sunday Telegraph31%50%13%19%
18 AprGallup/Telegraph32%50%13%18%
18 AprICM/Observer31%48%15%17%
18 AprNOP/Sunday Times29%47%17%18%
17 AprGallup/Telegraph31%50%12%19%
16 AprGallup/Telegraph31%50%11%19%
15 AprGallup/Telegraph30%51%12%21%
15 AprMORI/Times32%49%13%17%
14 AprGallup/Telegraph32%49%14%17%
14 AprHarris/Independent31%49%13%18%
14 AprICM/Guardian31%45%19%14%
14 AprMORI/Evening Standard29%50%15%21%
13 AprGallup/Telegraph30%50%14%20%
12 AprGallup/Sunday Telegraph31%50%13%19%
12 AprGallup/Telegraph32%49%14%17%
11 AprGallup/Telegraph32%52%11%20%
11 AprICM/Observer32%48%15%16%
11 AprNOP/Sunday Times28%49%16%21%
10 AprGallup/Telegraph30%52%11%22%
9 AprGallup/Telegraph29%53%12%24%
8 AprGallup/Telegraph32%51%11%19%
8 AprMORI/Times34%49%12%15%
7 AprGallup/Telegraph33%53%10%20%
7 AprHarris/Independent28%54%12%26%
7 AprICM/Guardian34%46%15%12%
6 AprGallup/Telegraph30%55%10%25%
4 AprICM/Observer30%50%14%20%
4 AprMORI/Independent on Sunday30%55%9%25%
4 AprNOP/Reuters29%52%11%23%
4 AprNOP/Sunday Times26%53%12%27%
3 AprGallup/Channel 430%54%11%24%
3 AprHarris/Central News29%55%11%26%
1 AprMORI/Times28%55%11%27%
31 MarHarris/Independent28%52%14%24%
31 MarICM/Guardian32%46%17%14%
28 MarGallup/Telegraph31%52%11%21%
24 MarHarris/Independent28%56%10%28%
24 MarMORI/Times29%50%14%21%
21 MarGallup/Sunday Telegraph27%56%11%29%
17 MarGallup/Telegraph28.5%56.5%9.5%28%
17 MarHarris/Independent27%58%10%31%
14 MarNOP/Reuters29%54%11%25%
13 MarNOP/Sunday Times26%54%13%28%
10 MarHarris/Independent26%53%14%27%
9 MarORB/Ladbrokes26%56%12%30%
4 MarGallup/Telegraph28%54%12.5%26%
3 MarHarris/Independent30%55%10%25%
2 MarICM/Guardian30%48%16%18%
24 FebMORI/Times31%52%11%21%
21 FebNOP/Reuters29%51%14%22%
13 FebNOP/Sunday Times30%49%13%19%
4 FebGallup/Telegraph34%49%12%15%
2 FebICM/Guardian32%48%15%16%
28 JanMORI/Times30%55%11%25%
16 JanNOP/Sunday Times31%54%12%23%
15 JanGallup/Telegraph32.5%50.5%10.5%18%
5 JanICM/Guardian31%48%16%17%
5 JanORB/Ladbrokes30%53%12%23%

1996

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
14 DecICM/Observer30%50%14%20%
9 DecMORI/Times30%51%13%21%
2 DecGallup/Telegraph22%59%12%37%
1 DecICM/Guardian31%50%15%19%
29 NovMORI/Euro30%52%13%22%
14 NovNOP/Sunday Times26%56%13%30%
11 NovMORI/Times33%50%12%17%
5 NovGallup/Telegraph28%55%11%17%
2 NovICM/Guardian34%47%15%13%
1 NovMORI/Mail on Sunday30%54%12%24%
28 OctMORI/Times28%56%12%18%
21 OctMORI27%54%12%17%
17 OctNOP/Sunday Times33%47%14%24%
14 OctMORI30%53%12%23%
7 OctMORI29%54%13%25%
5 OctICM/Guardian31%49%16%18%
4 OctGallup/Telegraph24%57%15%33%
3 OctNOP/Sunday Times25%57%13%32%
1 OctGallup/Telegraph27.5%52%15%24.5%
24 SepGallup/Telegraph27%54%13.5%27%
23 SepMORI/Times29%52%14%23%
19 SepNOP/Sunday Times31%50%14%19%
9 SepMORI28%56%12%28%
7 SepICM/Guardian32%47%16%15%
3 SepGallup/Telegraph25.5%58.5%11%33%
25 AugMORI/Times30%51%13%27%
15 AugNOP/Sunday Times28%54%14%26%
12 AugMORI30%52%13%22%
5 AugGallup/Telegraph25%59%11%34%
3 AugICM/Guardian33%45%19%12%
28 JulMORI/Times29%53%12%24%
25 JulNOP/Sunday Times29%51%16%22%
6 JulICM/Guardian30%45%21%15%
1 JulGallup/Telegraph26%54.5%14.5%28.5%
1 JulMORI32%52%12%20%
24 JunMORI/Times31%52%12%21%
20 JunNOP/Sunday Times27%55%15%28%
10 JunMORI27%56%13%29%
6 JunICM/Guardian30%46%19%16%
3 JunGallup/Telegraph22.5%57%16%34.5%
2 JunICM/Guardian30%46%19%16%
30 May 1996 Northern Ireland Forum election [1]
26 MayMORI/Times27%54%15%27%
16 MayNOP/Sunday Times27%52%17%25%
13 MayMORI27%56%13%29%
6 MayGallup/Telegraph24.5%55.5%15.5%31%
5 MayICM/Guardian28%45%21%17%
3 MayICM/Sunday Express26%52%15%26%
2 May 1996 local elections [2]
27 AprMORI/Sun29%54%13%25%
25 AprNOP/Sunday Times28%52%16%24%
22 AprMORI/Times28%54%14%26%
13 AprICM/Guardian29%50%17%21%
1 AprGallup/Telegraph26%55.5%15.5%29.5%
25 MarMORI/Times28%57%13%29%
14 MarNOP/Sunday Times27%55%14%28%
11 MarMORI29%55%13%26%
4 MarGallup/Telegraph23%57.5%16%34.5%
4 MarICM/Guardian31%45%20%14%
26 FebMORI/Times26%57%14%31%
16 FebNOP/Sunday Times25%54%16%29%
12 FebMORI26%57%14%31%
5 FebGallup/Telegraph28%54.5%14.5%26.5%
4 FebICM/Guardian31%47%19%16%
29 JanMORI28%54%15%26%
22 JanMORI/Times29%55%13%26%
19 JanNOP/Sunday Times25%54%18%25%
17 JanNOP33%47%14%14%
8 JanGallup/Telegraph21%60.5%14.5%39.5%
6 JanICM/Guardian26%48%22%22%
3 JanNOP/Sunday Times29%52%13%23%

1995

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
15 DecNOP/Sunday Times25%55%16%30%
14 DecICM/Observer30%50%14%20%
9 DecICM/Guardian26%48%22%22%
4 DecGallup/Telegraph23%62%12%39%
4 DecMORI/Times28%55%13%27%
1 DecNOP/Sunday Times25%57%15%32%
20 NovMORI/Times26%56%14%30%
17 NovNOP/Sunday Times27%56%13%29%
5 NovICM/Guardian31%48%16%17%
30 OctGallup/Telegraph21.5%61%14.5%39.5%
23 OctMORI/Times27%56%13%29%
20 OctNOP/Sunday Times23%59%15%36%
7 OctICM/Guardian30%47%19%17%
2 OctGallup/Telegraph25.5%55.5%14%30%
25 SepMORI/Times28%51%16%23%
15 SepNOP/Sunday Times27%53%17%26%
9 SepICM/Guardian31%48%17%17%
4 SepGallup/Telegraph26.5%54.5%14%28%
28 AugMORI/Times25%56%15%31%
18 AugNOP/Sunday Times24%57%15%33%
5 AugICM/Guardian31%48%17%17%
31 JulGallup/Telegraph22.5%57.5%14.5%35%
31 JulICM/Express24%58%14%34%
24 JulMORI/Times26%59%12%33%
21 JulMORI/LWT30%52%13%22%
21 JulNOP/Sunday Times26%55%14%29%
8 JulICM/Guardian32%47%17%15%
4 Jul John Major is re-elected leader of the Conservative Party [3]
3 JulGallup/Telegraph25.5%57%13%31.5%
3 JulMORI/European33%52%10%19%
27 JunMORI/Economist31%55%11%24%
26 JunMORI/Times29%56%13%27%
24 JunMORI/Mail on Sunday32%54%11%22%
10 JunICM/Guardian24%53%19%29%
5 JunGallup/Telegraph20%59.5%14.5%39.5%
22 MayMORI/Times22%58%16%36%
13 MayICM/Guardian29%48%19%19%
8 MayGallup/Telegraph23%55.5%16.5%32.5%
4 May 1995 local elections [4]
24 AprMORI/Times26%56%15%30%
8 AprICM/Guardian26%51%18%25%
6 Apr 1995 Scottish local elections [5]
3 AprGallup/Telegraph23%57.5%15%34.5%
24 MarMORI/Sunday Times25%59%12%34%
20 MarMORI/Times25%57%13%32%
11 MarICM/Guardian27%52%17%25%
27 FebGallup/Telegraph20.5%60.5%15%40%
20 FebMORI/Times24%58%14%34%
11 FebICM/Guardian31%49%17%18%
30 JanGallup/Telegraph23.5%59.5%13%36%
23 JanMORI/Times27%56%14%29%
14 JanICM/Guardian30%48%18%18%
13 JanHarris/Sunday Times25%60%12%35%
9 JanGallup/Telegraph18.5%62%14%43.5%

1994

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
19 DecMORI/Times22%61%13%39%
9 DecICM/Observer26%53%17%27%
5 DecGallup/Telegraph21.5%61%13.5%39.5%
3 DecICM/Guardian31%49%17%18%
21 NovMORI/Times24%55%17%31%
5 NovICM/Guardian31%49%16%18%
31 OctGallup/Telegraph21.5%56.5%17%35%
24 OctMORI/Times25%57%14%32%
8 OctICM/Guardian32%49%15%17%
3 OctGallup/Telegraph25.5%54%16.5%28.5%
27 SepGallup/Telegraph21%57.5%15.5%36.5%
26 SepMORI/Economist25%52%18%27%
26 SepMORI/Times25%54%17%29%
16 SepNOP/Independent28%50%17%22%
10 SepICM/Guardian33%45%18%12%
5 SepGallup/Telegraph22%56.5%17%34.5%
26 AugNOP/Independent on Sunday26%54%16%28%
22 AugMORI/Times23%56%18%33%
6 AugICM/Guardian28%49%19%21%
1 AugGallup/Telegraph23%56.5%14.5%33.5%
21 Jul Tony Blair becomes leader of the Labour Party [6]
18 JulMORI/Times23%51%21%28%
9 JulICM/Guardian31%44%21%13%
4 JulGallup/Telegraph26.5%51%17.5%24.5%
20 JunMORI/Times24%52%20%28%
10 JunICM/Sunday Express26.5%45.5%19%19%
9 June 1994 European Parliament election [7]
6 JunMORI/Times23%50%22%27%
4 JunICM/Daily Express27%45%22%19%
31 MayMORI/GMB22%46%22%24%
30 MayGallup/ Telegraph21%54%21.5%33%
23 MayMORI/Times27%46%23%19%
21 MayICM/Guardian30%44%20%14%
17 MayICM/Express26%48%23%22%
14 MayMORI/Sunday Times26%49%20%23%
12 May John Smith suffers a fatal heart attack [8]
9 MayGallup/Telegraph24.5%45.5%25%20.5%
7 MayICM/Guardian29%44%24%17%
5 May 1994 local elections [9]
25 AprMORI/Times26%47%23%21%
20 AprNOP/Independent26%48%21%22%
9 AprICM/Guardian30%42%22%12%
4 AprGallup/Telegraph26.5%51.5%17.5%25%
1 AprMORI/Evening Standard28%46%22%18%
31 MarNOP/Independent on Sunday26%50%20%24%
28 MarMORI/Times27%49%20%22%
12 MarICM/Guardian29%44%22%15%
28 FebGallup/Telegraph25%48.5%21%23.5%
28 FebMORI/Times28%47%21%19%
12 FebICM/Guardian30%44%21%14%
31 JanGallup/Telegraph26%45.5%23%19.5%
27 JanAudience Selection/Sunday Mirror28%41%24%13%
24 JanMORI/Times28%48%20%20%
11 JanGallup/Telegraph25.5%46.5%20.5%21%
11 JanMORI/Sun30%46%20%16%
8 JanICM/Guardian31%43%21%12%

1993

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
14 DecICM/Observer26%48%23%22%
13 DecMORI/Times29%47%20%18%
6 DecGallup/Telegraph27%48.5%20%21.5%
4 DecICM/Guardian31%42%23%11%
22 NovMORI/Times29%47%22%18%
13 NovNOP/Sunday Times27%47%21%20%
6 NovICM/Guardian34%38%24%4%
1 NovGallup/Telegraph24%46.5%25.5%22.5%
25 OctMORI/Times29%45%23%16%
9 OctICM/Guardian36%39%20%3%
9 OctICM/Sunday Express30%40%26%10%
27 SepGallup/Telegraph23%44.5%27%21.5%
24 SepICM/Sunday Express27%41%26%14%
21 SepGallup/Telegraph23.5%44%26.5%20.5%
20 SepMORI/Times29%43%25%14%
11 SepICM/Guardian29%40%26%11%
6 SepGallup/Telegraph25.5%46.5%23%21%
23 AugMORI/Times28%42%25%14%
7 AugICM/Guardian30%36%27%6%
1 AugGallup/Telegraph23%44.5%27%21.5%
30 JulMORI/Sunday Times27%41%28%14%
26 JulMORI/Times27%44%25%17%
23 JulMORI/Sunday Times34%44%18%10%
5 JulGallup/Telegraph24.5%43%26.5%18.5%
3 JulICM/Guardian32%37%25%5%
28 JunMORI/Times28%46%23%18%
12 JunMORI/Sunday Times29%44%22%15%
11 JunNOP/Independent on Sunday27%42%26%15%
5 JunICM/Guardian31%38%26%7%
31 MayGallup/Telegraph25%49%23%24%
24 MayMORI/Times28%44%24%16%
19 May 1993 Northern Ireland local elections
8 MayICM/Guardian32%38%24%6%
6 May 1993 local elections [10]
3 MayGallup/Telegraph30%47%17.5%17%
26 AprMORI/Times32%46%20%14%
10 AprICM/Guardian34%39%21%5%
1 AprGallup/Telegraph30.5%49%15.5%18.5%
29 MarMORI/Times32%47%17%15%
6 MarICM/Guardian36%41%18%5%
1 MarGallup/Telegraph32%49%14%17%
22 FebMORI/Times34%46%16%12%
6 FebICM/Guardian37%39%18%2%
1 FebGallup/Telegraph33.5%46%15.5%12.5%
26 JanMORI/CCC38%44%13%8%
21 JanMORI/Sunday Times37%45%14%8%
11 JanGallup/Telegraph33.5%45.5%14.5%12%
9 JanICM/Guardian39%37%18%2%

1992

Survey
end date		Pollster/Client Con Lab Lib Dem Lead
15 DecMORI/Sunday Times34%47%16%13%
5 DecICM/Guardian36%41%18%5%
1 DecMORI/Sunday Times34%47%15%13%
30 NovGallup/Telegraph29%52%14%23%
20 NovICM/Express33%49%14%16%
12 NovHarris/Observer32%51%14%19%
8 NovHarris/World in Action30%53%13%23%
7 NovICM/Guardian36%40%19%4%
2 NovGallup/Telegraph32.5%50%13%17.5%
30 OctNOP/Independent on Sunday34%47%14%13%
27 OctMORI/Sunday Times35%45%15%10%
19 OctGallup29%51%14%22%
12 OctGallup36%45%14%9%
10 OctICM/Guardian38%38%19%Tie
29 SepMORI/Sunday Times37%43%16%6%
28 SepGallup/Telegraph37%44%15%7%
21 SepGallup/Telegraph37%42%17%5%
19 SepMORI/Sunday Times39%43%15%4%
18 SepNOP/Independent on Sunday39%41%16%3%
17 SepHarris/Observer36%44%16%8%
16 Sep Black Wednesday [11]
7 SepGallup43%41%12%2%
5 SepICM/Guardian39%35%19%4%
2 SepMORI/Sunday Times41%44%13%3%
21 AugMORI/Times38%44%14%6%
14 AugNOP/Independent on Sunday43%39%14%4%
8 AugICM/Guardian41%36%17%5%
3 AugGallup40.5%45%12%4.5%
28 JulMORI/Sunday Times39%43%15%4%
18 Jul John Smith becomes leader of the Labour Party [12]
16 JulHarris/Observer44%38%15%6%
6 JulGallup42%38%16%4%
4 JulICM/Guardian45%36%15%9%
23 JunMORI/Sunday Times42%39%16%3%
18 JunHarris/Observer46%36%15%10%
6 JunICM/Guardian45%36%16%9%
1 JunGallup45%37%17%8%
26 MayMORI/Sunday Times43%38%16%5%
17 MayAudience Selection45%37%13%8%
14 MayHarris/Observer46%37%13%9%
9 MayICM/Guardian45%34%17%11%
8 May 1992 local elections [13]
4 MayGallup42%39%17%3%
28 AprMORI/Sunday Times43%38%16%5%
16 AprHarris/Observer44%36%17%8%
12 AprGallup39%38%19%1%
11 AprAudience Selection42%36%18%6%
9 Apr 1992 general election 41.9%34.4%17.8%7.5%

Polling in the nations and regions

Scotland

All poll data from BBC News. [14]

PollsterClientDate(s)
conducted		Sample
size		 Lab SNP Con Lib Dem Lead
1992 election 9 Apr 1992–39.0%21.5%25.6%13.1%13.4%
System 3 The Herald 20-24 Mar 19971,00652%20%17%9%32%
System 3 The Herald 27-30 Mar 19971,00353%26%12%9%27%
ICM The Scotsman 29-31 Mar 19971,00047%22%20%9%25%
NOPScot S Times2 Apr 199784449%25%18%6%24%
System 3 The Herald 5-6 Apr 19971,08151%23%14%10%28%
ICM The Scotsman 11-13 Apr 19971,00042%23%19%15%19%
System 3 The Herald 12-14 Apr 19971,00052%24%13%9%28%
NOPScot S Times17 Apr 199795047%28%15%8%19%
ICM The Scotsman 18-20 Apr 19971,00047%21%18%11%26%
System 3 The Herald 19-20 Apr 19971,08047%21%18%11%26%
NOPScot S Times24 Apr 19971,00049%24%14%12%25%
ICM The Scotsman 25-27 Apr 19971,00046%21%18%13%25%
System 3 The Herald 26-27 Apr 19971,08450%26%14%9%25%
1997 election 1 May 1997–45.6%22.1%17.5%13.0%23.5%

References

  1. ↑ Sharrock, David (1 June 1996). "Poll gives a good result all round". The Guardian . p. 8.
  2. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Timmins, Nicholas (3 May 1996). "This time it was merely a rout". The Independent . p. 1.
  3. ↑ White, Michael (5 July 1995). "Jubilant Major tightens grip as cabinet shuffle tilts to the right". The Guardian . p. 1.
  4. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Rentoul, John. "Tories massacred at local polls". The Independent . p. 1.
  5. ↑ Arlidge, John; Rentoul, John (7 April 1995). "Tories wiped out in Scottish poll". The Independent . p. 1.
  6. ↑ Sergeant, John (21 July 1994). "Tony Blair elected Labour Party leader, 1994". BBC News . Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Goodwin, Stephen (13 June 1994). "Britain turns to Labour". The Independent . p. 1.
  8. ↑ "1994: Labour leader John Smith dies at 55". 12 May 1994. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Whitfield, Martin (6 May 1994). "Lib Dems storm the town halls". The Independent . p. 1.
  10. ↑ Wynn Davies, Patricia; Crequer, Ngaio (7 May 1993). "Voters rebuff Major in county council polls". The Independent . p. 1.
  11. ↑ Inman, Phillip; correspondent, economics (13 September 2012). "Black Wednesday 20 years on: how the day unfolded". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 26 May 2024.{{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  12. ↑ Macintyre, Donald; Castle, Stephen (19 July 1992). "John Smith sweeps in with reforming zeal". The Independent on Sunday . p. 1.
  13. ↑ Timmins, Nicholas; Ian, McKinnon (8 May 1992). "Labour hammered at polls". The Independent . p. 1.
  14. ↑ "Scottish Voting Intention". Politics '97. BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 February 1999.
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