MPs urge opinion poll probe
A group of MPs are urging the Government to launch an enquiry into the conduct of opinion polls.
38 MPs have signed the Early Day Motion (EDM) regretting the “decline of self-regulation of public opinion polling companies in the United Kingdom”.
The group includes a number of influential MPs including former minister Frank Dobson and Health Select Committee chairman David Hinchliffe.
The motion states they are “deeply concerned that there are no sufficient checks on the integrity of polling or polling organisations.”
In addition they are worried by “the use of techniques designed to secure the results favoured by those who commission the polls and lack of transparency in the methodology employed.”
The MPs are calling for a full investigation into the “integrity, honesty and professionalism” of the polling industry and are urging the Goverment to introduce regulation if required.
It is believed that the MPs are particularly concerned by the rise in online option polling.
Education Select Committee chairman Barry Sheerman, who tabled the EDM, told the BBC this morning he is concerned about some pollsters lack of experience.
Mr Sheerman said: “A number of the large players in the opinion polling business say that people can just set up to be opinion pollsters without any background at all and that is quite worrying.
“I want the inquiry to look not only at fly-by-night new internet pollsters… but also at the rather lamentable record of the traditional pollsters” he said.
