Magna Carta and Press Freedoms Oliver Rowe, YouGov Research conducted May-June 2015 – Opinion Formers and General Public surveys
Significance and Understanding of Magna Carta How significant a role do you feel the Magna Carta plays in modern day politics and laws in the UK? DON’T NOT SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT KNOW Opinion 40% 6% 54% Formers SIGNIFICANT NOT SIGNIFICANT DON’T KNOW General 37% 37% 25% Public Do you feel that the values outlined in the Magna Carta are generally well understood in the UK? DON’T NOT UNDERSTOOD UNDERSTOOD KNOW Opinion 21% 78% 1% Formers NOT UNDERSTOOD UNDERSTOOD DON’T KNOW General 15% 72% 12% Public Base: 725 Opinion Formers; 1,691 General Public 2
Human Rights Act Eroding Magna Carta? Do you believe that the 1998 Human Rights Act has eroded the protections granted to British citizens that were set on the foundation of the Magna Carta? Opinion Formers General Public YES YES 23% 29% NO 49% 52% NO 26% NOT 21% NOT SURE SURE Base: 724 Opinion Formers; 1,691 General Public 3
Guarantees under Magna Carta Which of the following do you believe is guaranteed under the following: - Magna Carta / 1998 Human Rights Act – General Public 45% 40% Magna 29% 27% 26% 26% Carta 24% 23% 14% 12% 4% Base: 1,691 General Public 4
Guarantees under Magna Carta vs HRA Which of the following do you believe is guaranteed under the following: - Magna Carta / 1998 Human Rights Act – General Public 52% 45% 45% 44% Magna 42% 41% 41% 40% Carta 36% 36% 30% 29% 29% 27% 26% 26% 24% 23% 1998 Human 14% 12% Rights Act 4% 3% Liberties and customs of London and other cities Base: 1,691 General Public 5
A New Magna Carta Do you think there is a need for a ‘new Magna Carta’ to protect the people from abuse of executive power, or does the precedent set out by the original offer sufficient safe guards? Opinion Formers General Public There should be a There should be a new ‘Magna Carta’ new ‘Magna Carta’ Don’t know , to reflect modern to reflect modern 16% society’s concerns , society’s concerns , 38% 40% Don’t know , 36% The precedent of the original Magna Carta, embodied in current laws, is The precedent of the original Magna Carta, embodied in sufficient, 47% current laws, is sufficient, 23% Base: 703 Opinion Formers; 1,691 General Public 6
US First Amendment? Do you think that in the absence of a written constitution there should be a British equivalent of the US First Amendment that guarantees Freedom of Expression and therefore the Freedom of the Media? DON’T YES NO KNOW Opinion Formers 41% 15% 44% DON’T YES NO KNOW General Public 31% 40% 29% Base: 703 Opinion Formers; 1,691 General Public 7
Premise of Operation Elveden Thinking about the Police’s ‘Operation Elveden ’ which probed inappropriate payments to police officers by journalists, which one of these statements, if any, most closely represents your view? The police were right to mount a case against those 43% involved as these were criminal acts 44% It was right to investigate potential criminal practice 30% but prosecutions should not have been brought in 11% most cases The police overstepped their role by interfering with 10% press freedoms and public interest 8% All Opinion Formers General Public 8% Operation Elveden was politically motivated 7% 0% None of the above 2% 9% Don’t know 28% Base: 730 Opinion Formers; 196 Media/Journalists; 1,691 General Public 8
Premise of Operation Elveden Thinking about the Police’s ‘Operation Elveden ’ which probed inappropriate payments to police officers by journalists, which one of these statements, if any, most closely represents your view? 43% The police were right to mount a case against those 44% involved as these were criminal acts 27% It was right to investigate potential criminal practice 30% but prosecutions should not have been brought in 11% 41% most cases 10% The police overstepped their role by interfering with 8% All Opinion Formers press freedoms and public interest 17% General Public 8% Media/Journalists Operation Elveden was politically motivated 7% 8% 0% None of the above 2% 0% 9% Don’t know 28% 7% Base: 730 Opinion Formers; 196 Media/Journalists; 1,691 General Public 9
Outcome of Operation Elveden Do you believe that the recent collapse of the journalism trials based on the Police's Operation Elveden probe into bribery was… Please select as many as apply 39% A missed opportunity to set a precedent and clamp 41% down on the bribing of public officials 27% 38% Probably the right outcome 17% 47% All Opinion Formers 16% A victory for freedom of the press and investigative 10% General Public journalism 27% Media/Journalists 15% Don’t know 37% 11% Base: 729 Opinion Formers; 196 Media/Journalists; 1,691 General Public 10
Press Regulation post-Leveson The Leveson Report recommended that the Press Complaints Commission be replaced with a new “tough, independent regulator with teeth” based on legally enforceable contracts between publishers and the new body . Which one of the following, if any, do you most agree with? 43% The press should have a system of self-regulation but the majority of 25% people determining complaints should be unconnected to the media 50% 27% There should be external regulation of the press, with the media itself 30% not involved in deciding the parameters of the system 12% The press should have a system of self-regulation but it should be 17% overseen by a government-backed body which determines its 16% All Opinion Formers 17% effectiveness General Public The press should have a system of self-regulation, with responsibility 8% Media/Journalists for deciding complaints lying only (or mainly) with other media 5% 13% professionals 3% Other 0% 5% 2% Not sure 23% 3% Base: 725 Opinion Formers; 196 Media/Journalists; 1,691 General Public 11
Government vs Press Freedom Regarding freedom of the press, do you think... Freedom of the press is not under threat from government, 47% but does require more scrutiny, such as that from an 46% 33% independent body 29% Freedom of the press is under threat from government 19% 45% 12% The status quo between government and press freedoms is 7% All Opinion Formers about right 12% General Public 7% Media/Journalists There is no threat to freedom of the press from government 9% 4% 4% Other 1% 4% 1% Don't know 18% 3% Base: 725 Opinion Formers; 196 Media/Journalists; 1,691 General Public 12
See the full Magna Carta & Freedom of the Press results: • Opinion Formers • GB Adults 13
Magna Carta and Press Freedoms May-June 2015 – Opinion Formers and General Public Survey 14
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