BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Can We Trust the Opinion Polls?

Can We Trust the Opinion Polls?: Episode 2

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: Politics

Episode 2

BBC Radio 4 - Can We Trust the Opinion Polls?, Episode 2

David Cowling explores why opinion polls got the last general election result so wrong.

David Cowling explores why opinion polls got the last general election result so badly wrong.

Last year's general election should have been an easy result to predict. There was a constant stream of opinion polls, many more than in previous campaigns. But they turned out to be highly misleading, suggesting a hung parliament. The actual result was a huge shock to the polling industry. 

In the second part of a series examining the role of opinion polling in British politics, David Cowling why the opinion polls got the last election result so badly wrong. He considers the analysis produced by the industry's inquiry into what went askew, and asks how easily if at all it can be put right in the future. 

Producer: Martin Rosenbaum.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

David Cowling examines the role of opinion polling in British politics

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Can We Trust the Opinion Polls?

Episode 2

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4