MPs Put People Before Profits

Thursday 12 April 2001

Tony Blair's stand against proposed manufacturing job losses is likely to find strong support among Government MPs, according to MORI's regular survey of Members of Parliament.

The Summer 2000 study found Government MPs increasingly likely to believe that companies should put people before profits and oppose competitiveness at the expense of job losses.

Less than half of Labour MPs agree that 'the main responsibilities of companies is to perform competitively, even if this means reducing the number of people they employ' - a 16 point drop since the Summer 1999 study. By contrast, the vast majority of Conservative MPs (97%) believe that companies should focus on competitiveness.

Treatment of employees is considered by Labour MPs to be the most important factor to take into account when judging companies. Labour MPs are also more likely to focus on social and environmental responsibilities than their Conservative counterparts while Tories place more emphasis on quality of products and services.

MORI's annual survey of Members of the Scottish Parliament also finds that treatment of employees is the top priority when judging companies, especially on the Government side. Social responsibility is considered to be the second most important criterion overall followed by quality of products and services.

The majority of British MPs also believe that companies should play a greater role in the community. Conservative MPs are increasingly likely to think this is the case (68%, up 15 percentage points from Summer 1999) although fewer believe that industry and commerce do not pay enough attention to their social responsibilities (8% down from 24% in 1999).

Technical details

A representative sample of 107 Members of Parliament were interviewed face-to-face between 30 October and 13 December 2000. 63 Labour MPs (including 5 ministers), 30 Conservatives (including 7 Shadow Spokespersons) and 14 Other Opposition MPs took part. The study in Summer 2000 surveyed 61 Labour MPs, 37 Conservative MPs.

The next study of British MPs, the first among the new Parliament, will take place in June 2001.

MORI Scotland interviewed 74 Members of the Scottish Parliament, 33 Government members (Labour and Lib Dem) and 41 Opposition members (SNP, Conservative, Others) achieving a response rate of 58%. All interviews were conducted face-to-face between 4th September and 2 October 2000. Data has been weighted to reflect the profile of the Parliament by party and region.

Environmental and Social Responsibility, Summer 2000

Industry and Commerce do not pay enough attention to their social responsibilities

The main responsibilities of companies is to perform competitively, even if this means reducing the number of people that they employ.

Base: All Labour (61) and Conservative (37) MPs answering, Summer 2000
Source: MORI

Criteria for Judging Companies, Winter 2000

Q What are the most important factors you take into account when making your judgement about companies? (All mentions)

Base: All Labour (63) and Conservative (29) MPs answering, December 2000
Source: MORI

Criteria for Judging Companies

Q What are the most important factors you take into account when making your judgement about companies? (All mentions)

Base: All MSPs (74), September - October 2000
Source: MORI

Environmental and Social Responsibility, Summer 2000

Industry & commerce should play a greater role in the community

Base: All Labour (61) and Conservative (37) MPs answering, Summer 2000
Source: MORI