Opinion polling for the 1974 United Kingdom general elections

In the runup to both the February and October 1974 United Kingdom general elections, various polling organisations conducted opinion polling to gauge voting intention amongst the general public. Such polls are listed in this article, ranging from the previous election on 18 June 1970 to the first polling day on 28 February 1974, and again up to the second polling day on 10 October 1974.

Polling data is from PollBase.[1]

October 1974 general election

[edit]

Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
10 Oct 1974 October 1974 general election[2] 36.6% 40.2% 18.8% 3.6
9 Oct ORC Evening Standard 34.4% 41.8% 19.4% 7.4
8–9 Oct Harris Daily Express 34.6% 43% 19.3% 8.4
8 Oct ORC The Times 35% 44% 17% 9
8 Oct Marplan The Sun 33.3% 43.8% 19.5% 10.5
3–7 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 36% 41.5% 19% 5.5
5–6 Oct ORC Evening Standard 33% 43% 20% 10
5–6 Oct Harris Daily Express 33.5% 43.5% 20% 10
2–5 Oct NOP Daily Mail 31% 45.5% 19.5% 14.5
4 Oct Marplan News of the World 33.1% 42.9% 19.7% 9.8
2–3 Oct Harris London Weekend Television 34% 43% 20% 9
28 Sep – 3 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 37% 42.5% 17.5% 5.5
2 Oct Business Decisions The Observer 35.5% 40% 20% 4.5
27–30 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35% 42.5% 19% 7.5
26–29 Sep ORC The Times 33% 42% 21% 9
26–29 Sep Harris Daily Express 35% 43.5% 18.5% 8.5
25–27 Sep NOP N/A 33% 44% 22% 11
19–26 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 39% 44% 15% 5
25 Sep Business Decisions The Observer 36% 40% 20% 4
25 Sep Harris London Weekend Television 34% 43% 20% 9
19–22 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 37.5% 42.5% 18% 5
19–22 Sep ORC Evening Standard 31% 45% 20% 14
18–22 Sep Harris Daily Express 36.5% 42.5% 19% 6
19 Sep Business Decisions The Observer 36% 39.5% 20% 3.5
18–19 Sep Harris London Weekend Television 33% 45% 19% 12
18–19 Sep ORC The Sunday Times 35% 43% 19% 8
18 Sep Prime Minister Harold Wilson announces a snap general election for 10 October[3]
11–17 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 34% 42% 20.5% 8
10–15 Sep ORC The Times 34% 38% 23% 4
10–15 Sep NOP Daily Mail 32% 46.6% 18.2% 14.6
11–12 Sep NOP N/A 41% 40% 16% 1
11–12 Sep ORC The Sunday Times 36% 46% 16% 10
28 Aug – 4 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 37.5% 40.5% 18% 3
Aug ORC Evening Standard 34% 40.5% 21% 6.5
31 Aug NOP N/A 39.1% 37% 19.1% 2.1
8–12 Aug Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35.5% 39.5% 21% 4
Jul ORC Evening Standard 37% 37% 22% Tie
23–28 Jul NOP N/A 35.4% 44.8% 18.2% 9.4
10–15 Jul Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35% 38% 21% 3
Jun Harris Daily Express 35.5% 42% 20.5% 6.5
Jun ORC Evening Standard 34% 46% 18% 12
18–23 Jun NOP N/A 37.7% 45.8% 14% 8.1
12–17 Jun Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35.5% 44% 17% 8.5
May ORC Evening Standard 35% 45% 16% 10
23 May Newham South by-election
8–13 May Gallup The Daily Telegraph 33% 46.5% 17% 13.5
7 May Local elections in Scotland[4]
2 May Local elections in London[5]
Apr ORC Evening Standard 35.5% 42.5% 18% 7
9–16 Apr Gallup The Daily Telegraph 33% 49% 15.5% 16
2–7 Apr NOP N/A 36.4% 45.1% 16.5% 8.7
Mar ORC Evening Standard 35% 44% 17% 9
19–24 Mar NOP N/A 33.6% 47.7% 15% 14.1
13–18 Mar Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35% 43% 19% 8
12–17 Mar NOP N/A 35.7% 43.3% 17.9% 7.6
7 Mar Three Day Week restrictions end[6]
28 Feb 1974 February 1974 general election[7] 38.6% 38.0% 19.8% 0.6

February 1974 general election

[edit]

1974

[edit]
Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
28 Feb 1974 February 1974 general election[8] 38.6% 38.0% 19.8% 0.6
27 Feb Marplan London Weekend Television 36.5% 34.5% 25% 2
Feb ORC The Times 38.7% 34.9% 23% 3.8
27 Feb ORC Evening Standard 39.7% 36.7% 21.2% 3
26–27 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 39.5% 37.5% 20.5% 2
26–27 Feb Harris Daily Express 40.2% 35.2% 22% 7
Feb Harris Daily Express 38% 34.5% 25% 3.5
Feb ORC Evening Standard 36.5% 35% 25.5% 1.5
23–27 Feb NOP Daily Mail 39.5% 35.5% 22% 4
23–26 Feb NOP Daily Mail 40.5% 35.5% 22% 5
Feb Marplan London Weekend Television 38.5% 31.5% 28% 7
21 Feb Business Decisions The Observer 35% 37.5% 23.5% 2.5
18–21 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42% 40% 16.5% 2
Feb Harris Daily Express 40% 33.5% 23.5% 6.5
16–18 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 41% 40.5% 16.5% 0.5
14–17 Feb NOP Daily Mail 43.4% 37.8% 16.9% 5.6
Feb ORC Evening Standard 41% 35% 21% 6
Feb Harris Daily Express 43.5% 38% 17% 5.5
Feb Business Decisions The Observer 40.5% 38% 19.5% 2.5
Feb Marplan London Weekend Television 44% 35% 17% 9
12–14 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42.5% 41.5% 14% 1
12–13 Feb Harris Daily Express 46% 35% 18% 11
8–11 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 44.5% 43% 11% 1.5
8–10 Feb ORC The Times 42% 40% 16% 2
8–9 Feb Marplan London Weekend Television 45% 39% 12% 6
7 Feb Parliament dissolved and official campaign period begins[9]
7 Feb Business Decisions The Observer 44.9% 37.2% 11.9% 7.7
1–4 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 39.5% 42.5% 16% 3
Jan Harris Daily Express 41% 37% 20% 4
Jan ORC Evening Standard 41% 37% 19% 4
8–13 Jan NOP Daily Mail 39.4% 42% 16.5% 2.6
8–13 Jan Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40% 38% 19% 2

1973

[edit]
Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
Dec Harris Daily Express 36% 38.5% 23% 2.5
Dec ORC Evening Standard 35% 40% 23% 5
12–18 Dec Gallup The Daily Telegraph 36% 42.5% 18.5% 6.5
27 Nov – 2 Dec NOP Daily Mail 35.6% 43.2% 20% 7.6
Nov ORC Evening Standard 33% 38.5% 25.5% 5.5
18 Nov NOP Daily Mail 36.5% 39.9% 21.2% 3.4
14–18 Nov Gallup The Daily Telegraph 36.5% 38.5% 22.5% 2
8 Nov Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh North, Glasgow Govan and Hove by-elections
Oct ORC Evening Standard 33% 37.5% 27.5% 4.5
23–28 Oct NOP Daily Mail 37.5% 39.7% 21.3% 2.2
17–21 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 33% 39.5% 25.5% 6.5
13 Oct NOP Daily Mail 34.2% 35.4% 29.1% 1.2
Sep ORC Evening Standard 30.5% 38% 29% 7.5
5–9 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 33.5% 43% 22% 9.5
4–9 Sep NOP Daily Mail 33.9% 40.9% 23.8% 7
Aug ORC Evening Standard 30% 41% 26% 11
7–15 Aug NOP Daily Mail 28.9% 41.7% 27.6% 12.8
8–12 Aug Gallup The Daily Telegraph 31.5% 38% 28% 6.5
26 Jul Isle of Ely and Ripon by-elections
Jul ORC Evening Standard 38.5% 39% 18.5% 0.5
11–15 Jul Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35.5% 45% 17.5% 9.5
27 Jun Manchester Exchange by-election
Jun ORC Evening Standard 39% 37% 21% 2
19–24 Jun NOP Daily Mail 39.3% 43.9% 14.8% 4.6
12–17 Jun NOP Daily Mail 41.3% 41.6% 15.7% 0.3
6–10 Jun Gallup The Daily Telegraph 41% 42% 14.5% 1
7 Jun Final round of local elections in England and Wales[10][11]
30 May Local elections in Northern Ireland
24 May West Bromwich and Westhoughton by-elections
May Harris Daily Express 37% 45% 16% 8
May ORC Evening Standard 34% 41% 22% 7
10–13 May Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38% 43.5% 14.5% 5.5
10 May Further local elections in England and Wales
1–6 May NOP Daily Mail 31.9% 50.1% 16.9% 18.2
1 May Local elections in Scotland[12][13]
Apr ORC Evening Standard 36% 41% 20% 5
Apr Harris Daily Express 38% 42% 17% 4
11–15 Apr Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38% 41% 17.5% 3
10–16 Apr NOP Daily Mail 36.6% 45% 17% 8.4
12 Apr Local elections in England and Wales and Greater London Council election[14][15][16]
Mar ORC Evening Standard 38% 43% 16% 5
Mar Harris Daily Express 36% 47% 15% 11
9–12 Mar Gallup The Daily Telegraph 39% 43% 16% 4
6–11 Mar NOP Daily Mail 38% 45.2% 14.9% 7.2
8 Mar 1973 Northern Ireland border poll[17]
1 Mar Chester-le-Street, Dundee East and Lincoln by-elections
Feb Harris Daily Express 39% 46% 14% 7
Feb ORC Evening Standard 39% 41% 17% 2
8–11 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38% 47% 12.5% 9
Jan Harris Daily Express 37% 47% 14% 10
Jan ORC Evening Standard 39% 41% 17% 2
23–28 Jan NOP Daily Mail 39.9% 42.7% 15.4% 2.8
9–15 Jan NOP Daily Mail 39.4% 39% 20.6% 0.4
10–14 Jan Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38.5% 44% 15.5% 5.5

1972

[edit]
Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
Dec ORC Evening Standard 36% 45% 16% 9
12–18 Dec NOP Daily Mail 39.7% 42.6% 15.7% 2.9
6–10 Dec Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38% 46.5% 12.5% 8.5
7 Dec Sutton and Cheam and Uxbridge by-elections
28 Nov – 4 Dec NOP Daily Mail 37% 47.4% 13.7% 10.4
Nov Harris Daily Express 40% 46% 12% 6
Nov ORC Evening Standard 37% 45% 16% 8
14–20 Nov Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40.5% 45.4% 12.9% 4.9
9–12 Nov Gallup The Daily Telegraph 37.5% 45.5% 15% 8
Oct Harris Daily Express 37% 50% 11% 13
Oct – 2 Nov NOP Daily Mail 36.7% 50.5% 11.2% 13.8
26 Oct Rochdale by-election
18–22 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40% 48% 8.5% 8
10–26 Oct NOP Daily Mail 38.6% 49.7% 9.9% 11.1
Sep Harris Daily Express 40% 48% 11% 8
Sep ORC Evening Standard 39% 46% 12% 7
12–17 Sep NOP Daily Mail 35.7% 53.5% 9.1% 17.8
3–17 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38.5% 49.5% 9.5% 11
Aug Harris Daily Express 41% 49% 9% 8
Aug ORC Evening Standard 44% 49% 6% 5
9–13 Aug Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40% 49% 7.5% 9
Jul Harris Daily Express 42% 48% 9% 6
Jul ORC Evening Standard 37% 50% 10% 13
25–30 Jul NOP Daily Mail 41% 47% 10% 6
12–16 Jul Gallup The Daily Telegraph 41% 47% 10% 6
Jun Harris Daily Express 38% 52% 9% 14
Jun ORC Evening Standard 42% 46% 10% 4
8–11 Jun Gallup The Daily Telegraph 41% 47% 10% 6
May Harris Daily Express 44% 47% 8% 3
May ORC Evening Standard 43% 44.5% 10.5% 1.5
11–14 May NOP Daily Mail 40.5% 46.5% 11% 6
2–7 May NOP Daily Mail 40.9% 46.9% 10.8% 6
4 May Kingston-upon-Thames and Southwark by-elections
May Local elections
Apr Harris Daily Express 42% 50% 6% 8
Apr ORC Evening Standard 40% 51% 7% 11
12–16 Apr Gallup The Daily Telegraph 43.5% 44.5% 10% 1
11–16 Apr NOP Daily Mail 44.8% 46.8% 7.5% 2
13 Apr Merthyr Tydfil by-election
Mar Harris Daily Express 41% 50% 8% 9
Mar ORC Evening Standard 39% 49% 10% 10
8–12 Mar Gallup The Daily Telegraph 39.5% 48.5% 9.5% 9
Feb Harris Daily Express 39% 53% 7% 14
Feb ORC Evening Standard 35% 55% 8% 20
15–20 Feb NOP Daily Mail 42% 49% 8% 7
9–13 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40.5% 49% 8.5% 8.5
Jan Harris Daily Express 43% 49% 7% 6
Jan ORC Evening Standard 43% 47% 8% 4
24–30 Jan NOP Daily Mail 39.1% 49.8% 9.6% 10.7
12–16 Jan Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40.5% 48% 9% 7.5
11–16 Jan NOP Daily Mail 42.7% 49.4% 6.8% 6.7

1971

[edit]
Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
Dec ORC Evening Standard 39.5% 49.5% 9% 10
8–12 Dec Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42% 48% 7.5% 6
Nov Harris Daily Express 38% 54% 7% 16
Nov ORC Evening Standard 40% 51% 7.5% 11
23–29 Nov NOP Daily Mail 38.8% 51.8% 8.4% 13
10–14 Nov Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42.5% 48.5% 7% 6
Oct Harris Daily Express 40% 52% 7% 10
Oct ORC Evening Standard 42% 48% 8% 6
13–17 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 40% 50% 8% 10
Sep Harris Daily Express 42% 50% 7% 8
Sep ORC Evening Standard 42% 46% 9% 4
30 Sep Macclesfield by-election
23 Sep Widnes by-election
16–20 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 35% 54% 8.5% 19
16 Sep Stirling and Falkirk by-election
14–20 Sep NOP Daily Mail 41.8% 49.3% 7.9% 7.5
Aug Harris Daily Express 42% 50% 7% 8
Aug ORC Evening Standard 42% 47% 9% 5
11–15 Aug Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42% 48.5% 7% 6.5
Jul Harris Daily Express 42% 51% 7% 9
Jul ORC Evening Standard 39% 50% 8% 11
9–12 Jul Gallup The Daily Telegraph 33.5% 55% 8.5% 21.5
6–12 Jul NOP Daily Mail 38.1% 53.7% 7.6% 15.6
8 Jul Greenwich by-election
Jun Harris Daily Express 36% 57% 5% 21
Jun ORC Evening Standard 40% 51% 7% 11
17 Jun Hayes and Harlington by-election
8–14 Jun NOP Daily Mail 38.3% 52% 7.9% 13.7
10–13 Jun Gallup The Daily Telegraph 36% 54% 8% 18
May Harris Daily Express 39% 54% 7% 15
May ORC Evening Standard 45% 45% 8% Tie
27 May Bromsgrove and Goole by-elections
May NOP Daily Mail 40.7% 51.7% 6.6% 11
13–16 May Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38% 50% 9.5% 12
May Local elections
Apr Harris Daily Express 44% 47% 7% 3
Apr ORC Evening Standard 48.5% 41.5% 8.5% 7
13–19 Apr NOP Daily Mail 42% 48.8% 7.3% 6.8
8–13 Apr Gallup The Daily Telegraph 44% 45.5% 9.5% 1.5
1–4 Apr Gallup The Daily Telegraph 44.5% 48% 6% 3.5
1 Apr Liverpool Scotland and Arundel and Shoreham by-elections
Mar Harris Daily Express 42% 49% 8% 7
Mar ORC Evening Standard 41% 46% 11% 5
11–14 Mar Gallup The Daily Telegraph 38.5% 50.5% 8% 12
9–15 Mar NOP Daily Mail 39.9% 50.4% 8.9% 10.5
Feb Harris Daily Express 41% 49% 8% 8
Feb ORC Evening Standard 41.5% 48% 9% 6.5
8–14 Feb Gallup The Daily Telegraph 41.5% 49% 8% 7.5
Jan Harris Daily Express 42% 49% 8% 7
Jan ORC Evening Standard 45% 45% 9% Tie
14–17 Jan Gallup The Daily Telegraph 42.5% 47% 8.5% 4.5
12–18 Jan NOP Daily Mail 46.3% 44.3% 8.3% 2

1970

[edit]
Dates

conducted

Pollster Client Con Lab Lib Lead
Dec ORC Evening Standard 41.5% 47% 9.5% 5.5
10–13 Dec Gallup The Daily Telegraph 46% 44.5% 6% 1.5
Nov Harris Daily Express 45% 48% 7% 3
Nov ORC Evening Standard 51% 40% 7% 11
19 Nov Enfield West by-election
12–15 Nov Gallup The Daily Telegraph 43.5% 48% 6.5% 4.5
Oct Harris Daily Express 48% 44% 7% 4
Oct ORC Evening Standard 48% 43% 7% 5
22 Oct St Marylebone by-election
16–18 Oct Gallup The Daily Telegraph 46.5% 46.5% 6.5% Tie
13–18 Oct NOP Daily Mail 45.8% 46.6% 6.7% 0.8
Sep Harris Daily Express 49% 45% 5% 4
Sep ORC Evening Standard 50% 42% 6% 8
10–13 Sep Gallup The Daily Telegraph 46.5% 44% 8% 2.5
Aug ORC Evening Standard 49% 41% 8% 8
13–16 Aug Gallup The Daily Telegraph 47% 43.5% 7.5% 3.5
11–16 Aug NOP Daily Mail 47.3% 44.2% 6.9% 3.1
Jul ORC Evening Standard 51% 40% 8% 11
7–13 Jul NOP Daily Mail 51.2% 40.4% 6.5% 10.8
18 Jun 1970 1970 general election[18] 46.2% 43.8% 7.6% 2.4

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PollBase: Opinion polls database from 1943-today". Mark Pack. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  2. ^ GB result only
  3. ^ Smith, Alastair (19 July 2004). Election Timing. Cambridge University Press. p. 194. ISBN 0521833639.
  4. ^ Faux, Ronald (5 May 1977). "SNP seizes 107 seats". The Times. pp. 1, 4.
  5. ^ London Borough Council Elections 2 May 1974 (PDF). London: Greater London Council. 1974.
  6. ^ Robards, Terry (8 March 1974). "3‐day Work Week Ending in Britain". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  7. ^ GB result only
  8. ^ GB result only
  9. ^ Eder, Richard (8 February 1974). "British Elections Called by Heath for Month's End". The New York Times. p. 65. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Final poll result may lie with Independents". The Times. 8 June 1973.
  11. ^ "Liberals capture Eastbourne and exceed ambition to win 1,000 local government seats". The Times. 8 June 1973.
  12. ^ "Three major parties find cause for satisfaction in local election results despite low poll". The Times. 14 May 1973.
  13. ^ Damkat, Ivo (29 October 2003). "The 1973 Local Government Elections". ARK. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  14. ^ Greater London Council Election 12 April 1973 (PDF). London: Greater London Council. 1973.
  15. ^ "Labour sweep to victory in London and all six of the metropolitan counties". The Times. 13 April 1973.
  16. ^ "Labour take over metropolitan counties and 11 other councils". The Times. 14 April 1973.
  17. ^ Whyte, Nicholas (24 February 2001). "The Referendums of 1973 and 1975". ARK. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  18. ^ GB result only