11 Comments
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Bryan Pready's avatar

Thank you Peter. I hope you are sending this to every member of the committee and other influential members of the Lord's.

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GabrielM's avatar

My thought too

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Stephen Lloyd's avatar

Spot on Peter. And for what it’s worth I’d expect ‘undecided’ Peers to learn pretty sharply the bias behind this poll and to react negatively agin. In short Peers aren’t stupid and won’t appreciate being played. Just a thought!

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Paul Hartley's avatar

This post demonstrates why many, me amongst them, are curating their own sources for information and proper journalism. Substack, left and right journalism from a variety of sources and tv from other countries. We are often told we get media we deserve- rubbish, we get the media that's foisted upon us. Make your own!

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Andrew Kitching's avatar

Is the Independent now espousing the views of its proprietor, on this issue? Also a member of the House of Lords

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Jon Darling's avatar

The old Yes Minister sketch beautifully sums this up.

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Simon Jeffreys's avatar

I remember and miss that original Independent newspaper. Sadly, seriousness has gone out of fashion.

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Mary Corcoran's avatar

What was the name of the journalist who wrote the story? If their name wasn’t mentioned, was the I contacted for further comment?

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Mike Glasgow Scotland's avatar

The other question that Westminster law makers should ask is: how does the territorial nature of any poll compare with the jurisidictional nature of the law and the lawmaking process?

I couldn't find this particular poll on their website, but I noticed that Whitestone have carried out several polls of this nature on assisted dying, some of which cover the UK, some cover GB, but none covering the territorial extent of Leadbetter's Bill - England & Wales. Of course the media rarely mention something at Westminster that is devolved, so long as it applies to England (or England & Wales), there is an assumption it is "Britain" (a vague term never clear whether it is the island group comprising Great Britain or the entire UK). There's something a bit bizarre about asking people in Scotland & Northern Ireland (in the case of one poll, over 10% of the sample) about a Bill that does not affect them, especially when, by coincidence ,there is a bill also going through the Scottish Parliament that the House of Lords has absolutely no say on.

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TurboNick's avatar

Thanks very much Peter - very informative. Frankly the only question is who on earth are the 55% of people who DON’T support the right of peers to vote against legislation they believe to be damaging to vulnerable people, and why not?!

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Sprint for PR's avatar

Hi Peter,

Is it possible voting intention polling is inherently flawed, and has completely distorted our understanding of British politics?

https://open.substack.com/pub/ewanhoyle/p/green-party-supporters-are-too-clever?r=2u1072&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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