8% <i>think</i> they can name their MEP

A new YouGov poll for OpenEurope shows a majority (54%) of people think government should abandon attempts to ratify the Lisbon treaty, only 14% think it should still be ratified.

In terms of general attitude towards the EU, 24% of people think Britain should leave the EU entirely, 38% support British membership of the single market, but would prefer Britain not to participate in more "political elements" of the EU, 29% support full membership.

The poll also asked if people could name their local MEPs - 8% said they could. Asked to do so, 115 out of 1312 had a stab at it. The MEP most commonly named was, er, Neil Kinnock, who isn't an MP. The real MEP who was named most often was Gary Titley, leader of the Labour group in the European Parliament. (Other non-MEPs named as people's local MEP included Jacqui Lait, Peter Mandleson, Annabelle Goldie, Lembit Opik, Tony Benn, Patrick McLoughlin, Gwyn Prosser, Grant Shapps, Edwina Currie, Dawn Primarolo, Austin Mitchell and - not quite sure who they meant to put - Peter Burns, presumably not the surgically altered lead singer of 1980s band Dead or Alive)

What would happen if the Prime Minister lost their seat?

Britain’s unwritten constitution assumes the incumbent Prime Minister gets the first chance to form a government. But what happens if that Prime Minister has been personally ejected by voters in their constituency?

Teens Think Happiness and Wellbeing More Important Than Money from a Job

According to a survey of 4,560 children aged 13 - 16, across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland conducted by Survation for the BBC, teenagers think 'to feel good about what you do' was the most important thing about any future job. 'happiness' was second,

Latest General Election Projection: Knife Edge Coalitions

Our latest default model projection based on current national polling shows that if a general election was held today, Reform would be the biggest party on 226 seats, 100 seats short of a majority. To put Nigel Farage in Downing Street they would require a coalition with the Conservatives -

Local Elections Expectations Management

Writing in the New Statesman Ben Walker speculates that Labour could lose nearly 2,000 seats out of some 2,500 they are defending. This seems catastrophic for Labour and would see the Greens gain almost a 1,000 councillors with Reform expected to take another 1,000 from Labour

Read more

What would happen if the Prime Minister lost their seat?

Teens Think Happiness and Wellbeing More Important Than Money from a Job

Latest General Election Projection: Knife Edge Coalitions

Local Elections Expectations Management