Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence”

Media Integrity

Public opinion is firmly opposed to Rupert Murdoch's proposed takeover of BSkyB, with voters finally waking up to the fact he has way too much influence over UK politics.

Public opinion is firmly opposed to Rupert Murdoch’s proposed takeover of BSkyB, with voters finally waking up to the fact he has “too much influence” over UK politics. The issue will come to a head this Wednesday, with Ed Miliband calling a Commons debate and vote on the News Corp takeover – a vote he seems certain to win, with Lib Dems backing him and many Tories reluctant to vote against him.


A YouGov poll (pdf) for The Sunday Times revealed, in response to the following questions:

Should the News Corp takeover of BSkyB be allowed? Yes: 9%, No: 70%;

What grounds should the takeover decision be made on? Competition grounds alone: 24%, Should take account of phone hacking: 54%;

What do you think of the original police investigation? Adequate: 6%, Inadequate: 75%;

Is it acceptable to pay the police for information? Yes: 2%, No: 92%;

What do you think of press regulation? PCC should continue: 25%, Parliament should set up a formal regulatory authority: 61%;

When should a public inquiry start? ASAP: 48%, After police investigation concludes: 44%

Who should conduct the investigation into the News of the World? News International themsleves: 6%, Someone from outside the organisation: 90%.

Are tabloids fair and accurate in their reporting? Yes: 9%, No: 71%;

Are tabloids out of control? Yes: 78%, No 14%.

While YouGov’s poll for Avaaz (pdf) found, in response to the following:

What impact will the BSkyB takeover have on the media? It will increase diversity: 4%, It will decrease diversity: 49%;

What impact will the deal have on journalism: Increase journalistic standards: 3%, Decrease journalistic standards: 52%;

What do you think the government takes into account more? Public interest: 14%, Interests of media companies: 43%;

Are Murdoch and other News Corp execs “fit and proper” people to own British media? Yes: 11%, No: 67%;

How much influence does Murdoch have over British politics? Too much: 72%, Not enough: 2%

What do you think of David Cameron’s relationship to Murdoch and News Corporation? Too close: 51%, About right: 12%.

In his commentary, YouGov president Peter Kellner concludes:

“However you look at these results, the picture is bleak for News Corporation. Its executives have a vast challenge to restore public faith in their operations.”

We will have more on the fallout from the phone hacking scandal later today and throughout the week on Left Foot Forward.

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56 Responses to “Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence””

  1. scandalousbill

    Anon,

    You say:

    “…if I was anti-Murdoch I certainly wouldn’t spend any of my money supporting him on principal…”

    “It’s called integrity btw and I haven’t noticed any calls to boycott Sky TV yet.”

    Would that action not apply more if, and when, the Murdoch purchase of BskyB goes through?

  2. Anon E Mouse

    scandalousbill – Well what’s happened now is by ditching the NOTW Murdoch actually owns less of the media than he did and if the body said it was OK before then it must be even more so now.

    What I have problems with is politicians controlling companies and the media – we’ll end up like France. No David Mellors or Jeffery Archers brought to account. No “Trusty Swords Of Truth” stuff and for what?

    Because a businessman who pays taxes unlike the Guardian Newspaper Group broke the print unions years ago?

    it’s just petty spite and nothing more and all it will do is backfire, unfairly in my opinion, against Ed Miliband. He never had a chance of leading this country but this will make it even worse now.

    As for BSkyB if I was anti Murdoch I certainly wouldn’t have the gall to do what Shamik Das here does and as for the BBC I really resent having to pay for Eastenders when I only watch BBC News and listen to the radio really.

    With Murdoch if I don’t pay he goes bust. With the BBC if I don’t pay I go to jail. Stinks eh?

  3. Jackie Fleming

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” http://bit.ly/nV8Vzu

  4. InternationalUNCUT

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence" | Left Foot F http://fb.me/FprLWMaD

  5. matthew fox

    Confidence in UK Manufacturing in down, the UK economy is heading south and all we see is Anon E Ratface schilling for Murdoch.

    Anon E Ratface prefers the current system of being told how to think.

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