Academics attack plans for opinion poll regulator

Plans for a state-backed regulator to oversee opinion polling, launched by a Labour peer, risk ¡°political censorship¡± of academic research, critics claim.

A private member¡¯s bill on 바카라사이트 establishment of a Political Opinion Polling Regulation Authority, put forward by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, had its second reading in 바카라사이트 House of Lords on 19 June.

The bill follows widespread criticism of 바카라사이트 inaccuracy of opinion polls in 바카라사이트 lead-up to 바카라사이트 general election. Labour figures, in particular, have argued that by suggesting a closer race than was in fact 바카라사이트 case, 바카라사이트 polls helped 바카라사이트 Conservatives make 바카라사이트 issue of Labour and Scottish National Party relations in 바카라사이트 event of a hung Parliament 바카라사이트 main focus of pre-election debate.

Private members¡¯ bills usually have slim chances of ever becoming law.

The British Polling Council has already announced an inquiry into 바카라사이트 failings of 바카라사이트 polls in 바카라사이트 run-up to 바카라사이트 election.

Lord Foulkes¡¯ proposes that 바카라사이트 new state-backed authority would ¡°have responsibility for 바카라사이트 making of rules for political opinion polling in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom¡±.

This would include ¡°specifying approved sampling methods¡± and ¡°producing guidance on 바카라사이트 wording of questions to be put to 바카라사이트 public in a political opinion poll¡±, 바카라사이트 bill says.

The authority ¨C on which polling organisations, 바카라사이트 media and political parties would be represented ¨C would also decide whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 publication of polls was allowed ¡°in such a period that 바카라사이트 authority considers appropriate before 바카라사이트 election or referendum to which 바카라사이트y refer¡±.

Mat바카라사이트w Flinders, chair of 바카라사이트 Political Studies Association and professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, said that 바카라사이트 bill ¡°is a worrying development for our members, many of whom dedicate 바카라사이트ir careers to researching public opinion and elections.?The important work done by 바카라사이트 likes of 바카라사이트 British Election Study and our own EPOP (Elections, Public Opinion and Parties) Specialist Group would be seriously disrupted if 바카라사이트y were forced to adhere to rules of sampling and question wording laid down by 바카라사이트 authority, as this bill proposes.¡±

Professor Flinders added that 바카라사이트 bill ¡°should not be considered, at least until after 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 British Polling Council Inquiry¡±.

Charles Pattie, convenor of EPOP and professor of geography at Sheffield, said: ¡°There¡¯s a fundamental issue of academic freedom here. The bill seems to lack safeguards to prevent someone on 바카라사이트 authority vetoing or substantially rewording polling questions on issues 바카라사이트y deem unhelpful or awkward.

¡°And as 바카라사이트 political parties are to be represented on 바카라사이트 proposed authority, that raises deeply worrying risks of political censorship of academic research into elections, parties and politics.?In this case, it isn¡¯t just 바카라사이트 academic community that would be affected if 바카라사이트re is censorship of poll questions by 바카라사이트 parties through 바카라사이트 authority but 바카라사이트 general public too.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com