Wanted: an informed electorate

Posted on

There are moments when I do wonder about those with whom I share the more proximate parts of our planet. The Times Red Box has reported this morning that:

According to a new YouGov poll for The Times, the proportion of people who think that Theresa May makes the best prime minister has gone up since last month.

Now, admittedly, it is only at 34 per cent, just ahead of Jeremy Corbyn and just behind Don't Know. Labour are narrowly ahead on voting intention on 43 per cent, up one point on October, with the Conservatives unchanged on 40 per cent and the Lib Dems drifting down to 6 per cent.

A third (31 per cent) of people think that May is doing well, while 55 per cent think that she is doing badly. For Corbyn its 44 per cent well, 39 per cent badly.

Maybe there are reasons why someone, somewhere can think Theresa May is doing well. I am quite sure she does not share that opinion. But for 34% of the country to think that suggests a staggering collective inability to appraise reality. Or massive ignorance. And I am not being rude: I am expressing concern and I am suggesting there are questions to ask.

Questions like, who informs this opinion?

And how can it be so wrong?

And how can it be corrected?

Democracy requires an informed electorate. It's not clear we have one and that is worrying.


Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:

You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.

And if you would like to support this blog you can, here: