Empey not surprised at opinion poll 'tactics'
REG Empey said that he was not surprised that opinion polls were publicised that showed overwhelming public support for the devolution of policing and justice, even among UUP supporters.
"We expected this. It is standard NIO tactics," Sir Reg told the News Letter.
NIO findings showed overwhelming support for the transfer, and were cited by Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
And a poll for OFMDFM found likewise, showing that 72 per cent of people overall supported the Hillsborough deal to transfer justice, including 68 per cent of Protestants.
But Sir Reg said that many of the questions were leading.
One of the OFMDFM poll questions invited respondents to agree or disagree with the following statement: "I believe we should transfer policing and justice powers to Stormont so that the Executive can get on with the job of improving life for everyone in Northern Ireland."
This had 82 per cent support, including 77 per cent of Protestants.
Sir Reg said: "Most of the questions I could have answered yes.
"We were in favour of the devolution of policing and justice in principle, but not without certain matters being addressed."
He also slammed poll findings on support for political parties, that showed the TUV on one per cent and the SDLP ahead of Sinn Fein.
"Maybe I have missed something, but I am not detecting that," he said.
Jim Allister was scathing about party findings of the polls.
The TUV leader said: "I don't give any credence at all to the fantasy polls like that.
"They were so laughable, no matter what way you looked at them – the SDLP as the largest nationalist party? Alliance on 11 per cent?"
Mr Allister pointed out that in the Euro election he had won three votes for the DUP's four.
"Yet one of these polls shows the DUP on 26 votes to my one.
"How anyone can publish such a poll and not realise that what they are doing is crashing and burning their own credibility?"
He said that the DUP had in the past picked up on these details, but not now it had become an establishment party.
"It goes for spin, cites ludicrous polls, it now orchestrates international pressure – the very thing that used to make it bristle with resentment."
But Nigel Dodds of the DUP drew a distinction between the polls on policing and justice and the polls on party strength.
"We don't take much account of the small detail regarding party strength: we note it , but are not interested in that.
"We are relying on our own consultation process and polls that say there is 70 per cent or 80 per cent support for the transfer of policing and justice.
"You may quibble it is less than that, but the overwhelming fact that it is such a massive figure cannot be ignored.
"It is ostrich-like to pretend it is not there."
An NIO spokesman said: "The extent to which there is community confidence in the devolution of policing and justice was an
issue that had been raised. It is perfectly legitimate for Government to seek an objective assessment through a poll."
- A DUP source gave the News Letter details of two separate poll findings on party strength.
They said that an NIO poll showed DUP on 26 per cent, SDLP on 21 per cent, Sinn Fein on 17 per cent, Ulster Unionists on 14 per cent, Alliance on eight per cent, Greens on four per cent, Conservatives on two per cent, TUV on one per cent, PUP one per cent, others on four cent. An OFMDFM poll – DUP 30 per cent, UUP 19 per cent, SDLP 19 per cent, Sinn Fein 16 per cent, Alliance Party 11 per cent, TUV two per cent, PUP one per cent, others three per cent.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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