ICM poll on Afghanistan

An ICM poll for tonight's BBC Newsnight shows the public evenly split between support and opposition to Britain's action in Afghanistan, but does suggest that support is continuing to grow.

46% said they supported the British mission in Afghanistan, with 47% opposed. A similar ICM poll for the BBC in March 2008 showed 40% support, a poll in September 2006 only 31% support. The survey was conducted between 10th and 11th July, so after news of many of last week's casualties had been reported.

The higher level of public support for the action is Afghanistan compared to that in Iraq is probably connected to the poll's other findings. More people thought that British troops were having a postive (33%) than negative (16%) effect in Afghanistan, and asked what the purpose of British troops in Afghanistan was, 80% cited the fight against Al Qa'eda and 78% helping the Afghan government defeat the Taliban. When, in the past, other polls asked similar questions about Iraq, they tended to show people thought the main reason was to secure oil supplies, and that the presence of British troops was making the situation worse.

ICM's poll also found 42% saying that Britain should pull out of Afghanistan now, and 14% wanting Britain out by the end of this year. 36% said British troops should stay in Afghanistan for as long as needed.

Voting intention: For those of you waiting for a proper voting intention poll, Populus's monthly poll for the Times will hopefully turn up this evening - normally we'd have had it last week, so I have my fingers crossed for tomorrow's paper. We are also heading towards the time of the month when we can expect to see ICM in the Guardian or YouGov in the Sunday Times (though the latter is a moveable feast).