Current Affairs, Londoners' Views

Tuesday 25 March 2003

A survey by MORI on behalf of the Greater London Authority reveals that half of Londoners (50%) support the congestion charge scheme with one in three (34%) against it. Before the scheme started similar proportions supported and opposed the scheme. Two-thirds (67%) believe it has been effective in reducing traffic congestion, while one in five (20%) do not.

There is widespread support for a London bid for the 2012 Olympics; 69% support the bid compared with 21% who oppose it. Just under half of Londoners (46%) say they would be prepared to pay up to £2 per month from 2005 to 2012 towards the cost of hosting the games, compared with 40% who would not be prepared to contribute.

Polling on other issues reveals a majority support the immediate transfer of London Underground to the Mayor and Transport for London; 63% of Londoners support immediate transfer of the Tube to the Mayor, compared with 20% of Londoners who oppose it.

Topline Results

• Results are based on 1,008 interviews conducted by telephone with a sample of residents in the Greater London area.
• Interviews were conducted between 7–15 March 2003.
• Data are weighted by gender, age, work status and ethnicity to the known profile of Greater London.
• Where results do not sum to 100%, this may be due to multiple responses, computer rounding or the exclusion of 'don't know/not stated' response categories.
• Where there are small bases (less than 30 respondents) responses are given in absolute figures rather than percentage answers.

Q The Mayor's London Plan proposes that at least half the houses in any new housing developments in the capital should be affordable housing. Affordable housing is housing for low income households and low cost homes for key workers such as teachers, nurses and the police to rent and buy.

Which of the following comes closest to your view of the Mayor's proposals?

Q Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Ken Livingstone is doing his job as Mayor of London? Is that very/fairly satisfied/dissatisfied?

LONDON UNDERGROUND

Q The Government currently controls London Underground. Management of the Underground will be transferred to The Mayor of London and Transport for London this year.

The Government wants to keep control of the Underground until it has introduced its public private partnership, which may take some time.

The Mayor of London is proposing that the Underground should be transferred to the Mayor and Transport for London without delay so that they can bring in new management. Do you support or oppose the Mayor's proposal to take control of the Underground immediately and introduce new management?

CONGESTION CHARGING

Q How strongly do you support or oppose congestion charging in Central London? Do you … ?

Q From what you know or have heard of the scheme, how effective do you believe the congestion charge scheme has been in reducing traffic congestion in Central London? Would you say it has been … ?

WAR ON IRAQ

Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining an American-led military action against Iraq, with UN approval?

Q Would you support or oppose Britain joining an American-led military action against Iraq, without UN approval?

Q How concerned, if at all, will you be about each of the following if Britain attacks Iraq?

THE OLYMPICS IN LONDON

Q The Mayor of London is backing a bid for the Olympics in 2012 in London. If the Government were to give the go-ahead, would you support or oppose this bid? Is that strongly/tend to support/oppose?

Q Some of the cost of hosting the Olympics would be paid by London tax payers. How much, if anything, would you be prepared to pay per month from 2005 until 2012 to host the Olympics in London?