Variable

UK Data Service variable record for:

British General Election Study, 1987; Cross-Section Survey

Variable Details

VariableV15B5
LabelReason 5 why voted for party
Question text You said you voted (PARTY AT V15A) in the 1987 general election. Can you say a bit about why you decided to vote for the (PARTY AT V15A)? 5th reason
Responses
100 Positive refs-named Con. leaders 0
101 General 7
102 Mrs. Thatcher 17
103 Local people in Party 2
110 Oth pos refs-general images 9
111 Competence in governing 30
112 Keeps promises, honest 10
113 Strong, decisive 20
114 United Party, not divided 6
115 Caring, concerned 1
116 Unites the Nation 1
117 Party is centre/moderate/not extreme 0
120 Oth pos refs-philosophies or ideas 0
121 Mentions of philosophy/ideas/beliefs 16
122 For free/Private enterprise/Profit 8
123 For indiv opp./Self-reliance/Indiv. choice 16
124 Social welfare, welfare state 0
125 Equality 1
126 Traditional/Patriotic Party 0
127 Right, not leftist 0
128 Fresh, new ideas 1
130 Oth pos refs-Foreign policy 3
131 Foreign policy 8
132 Defence 12
133 Nuclear defence issues 10
134 Falklands 2
135 Stands up to EEC, Common Market 2
139 General domestic policies 2
140 Other domestic issues 2
141 Budget, managing economy 29
142 Unemployment 7
143 Prices, inflation 10
144 Taxes/Cutting taxes/Lower taxes 11
145 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 3
146 Privatisation 3
147 Shares/share ownership/the City 5
148 National Health Service 1
149 Housing policy 13
150 State education 9
151 State pensions/Family allowance 0
152 Private health care/Education/Pensions 1
153 Crime, law and order 1
154 Strikes, industrial relations 6
155 Trade Unions 9
156 Immigration, ethnic minorities 2
157 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 0
158 Women, Women's issues 0
159 Environmental or 'green' issues 1
160 Pos mentions handling oth groups 0
161 Me, I am better off 15
162 All people, vast majority 6
163 Working people/the less well-off/the poor 4
164 Middle class/better-off 3
165 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
166 The unemployed 1
167 Those running industry/business 2
168 Those in City, financial services 1
169 Self-employed/small businessmen 7
170 Homeowners 4
171 Council tenants/the homeless 3
172 Shareowners 1
173 Taxpayers 1
174 Pensioners/older people 1
175 Young people 1
176 People in this part of country 1
177 Straight people/heterosexual 0
178 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 0
179 Public sector workers 2
180 Other responses-Party politics 0
181 Always been Conservative 8
182 Unknown label 0
183 Family/Parents etc. Conservatives 2
184 Active in local Conservative Party 2
185 Better not to switch parties 6
186 Vote for Party that could win 0
187 Tactical vote for Conservatives 0
188 Cons no chance-but voted for them anyway 0
189 Want Cons have more seats 0
190 Cons fought better campaign 1
196 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
197 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
198 No codes-Other answer 0
200 Negative refs-named Con. leaders 3
201 General 1
202 Mrs. Thatcher 13
203 Local people in Party 3
210 Oth negative mentions of party 0
211 Competence in governing 5
212 Can't keep promises/dishonest 1
213 Weak, indecisive 0
214 Divided Party, not divided 0
215 Uncaring, unconcerned 9
216 Divides the Nation 6
217 Party is extreme/hard-line/not moderate 6
220 Oth negative mentions-philosophies or ideas 1
221 Dislike overall philosophy 5
222 Free/Private enterprise/Profit 0
223 Too individualistic 1
224 Social welfare, welfare state 4
225 Inequality 0
226 Traditional/Patriotic Party 0
227 Are to Right, not leftist 1
228 Have no new ideas 0
230 Oth negative refs-Foreign policy 1
231 Foreign policy 1
232 Defence 4
233 Nuclear defence issues 1
234 Falklands 1
235 Stand on EEC, Common Market 0
239 General domestic policies 0
240 Other domestic issues 1
241 Budget, managing economy 0
242 Unemployment 9
243 Prices, inflation 2
244 Taxes 2
245 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 6
246 Privatisation 9
247 Shares/Share ownership/The City 3
248 National Health Service 17
249 Housing policy 0
250 State education 10
251 State pensions/Family allowance 6
252 Private health care/Education/Pensions 3
253 Crime, law and order 0
254 Strikes, industrial relations 1
255 Trade Unions 1
256 Immigration, ethnic minorities 0
257 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 0
258 Women, Women's issues 0
259 Environmental or 'green' issues 1
260 Negative mentions handling oth groups 2
261 Me, I am worse off 10
262 All people, vast majority 2
263 Working people/the less well-off/the poor 18
264 Middle class/better-off 13
265 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
266 The unemployed 8
267 Those running industry/business 0
268 Those in City, financial services 0
269 Self-employed/small businessmen 0
270 Homeowners 1
271 Council tenants/the homeless 2
272 Shareowners 0
273 Taxpayers 0
274 Pensioners/older people 9
275 Young people 4
276 People in this part of country 9
277 Gays/lesbians/homosexuals 0
278 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 0
279 Public sector workers 1
280 Other responses-Party politics 0
281 Used to be Conservative 1
282 Always hated/disliked Conservatives 3
283 Family etc. hate Conservatives 0
284 Dislikes local Con. Party 0
285 Time for a change 5
286 Win anyway-didn't need vote 0
287 Tactical vote against Conservatives 3
288 Cons no chance-so did not vote for it 0
289 Want Cons have fewer seats 1
290 Cons fought bad campaign 3
295 Never though about voting Cons 0
296 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
297 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
298 No codes-Other answer 0
300 Positive refs-named Labour leaders 0
301 General 0
302 Neil Kinnock 4
303 Local people in Party 1
310 Oth pos refs-general images 1
311 Competence in governing 3
312 Keeps promises, honest 1
313 Strong, decisive 0
314 United Party, not divided 0
315 Caring, concerned 9
316 Unites the Nation 1
317 Party is centre/moderate/not extreme 1
320 Oth pos refs-philosophies or ideas 0
321 Likes overall philosophy/beliefs 8
322 For socialism 1
323 For fairness/justice 2
324 Social welfare, welfare state 3
325 Equality 1
326 Traditional/Patriotic Party 0
327 Left, not right-wing' 0
328 Fresh, new ideas 0
329 Militant 0
330 Oth pos refs-Foreign policy 0
331 Foreign policy 2
332 Defence 5
333 Nuclear defence issues 10
334 Falklands 0
335 Policy on EEC, Common Market 0
339 General domestic policies 0
340 Other domestic issues 1
341 Budget, managing economy 1
342 Unemployment 15
343 Prices, inflation 0
344 Taxes 3
345 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 2
346 Nationalisation 2
347 Shares/share ownership/the City 0
348 National Health Service 25
349 Housing policy 4
350 State education 8
351 State pensions/Family allowance 8
352 Private health care/Education/Pensions 4
353 Crime, law and order 0
354 Strikes, industrial relations 1
355 Trade Unions 2
356 Immigration, ethnic minorities 0
357 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 0
358 Women, Women's issues 0
359 Environmental or 'green' issues 2
360 Pos mentions handling oth groups 5
361 Me, I am better off 8
362 All people, vast majority 8
363 Working people/the less well-off/the poor 13
364 Middle class/better-off 0
365 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
366 The unemployed 8
367 Those working in industry/business 2
368 Those working in City/finance 0
369 Self-employed/small businessmen 0
370 Homeowners 0
371 Council tenants/the homeless 2
372 Shareowners 0
373 Taxpayers 0
374 Pensioners/older people 10
375 Young people 3
376 People in this part of country 6
377 Gays/lesbians/homosexuals 0
378 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 1
379 Public sector workers 3
380 Other responses-Party politics 1
381 Always been Labour 5
382 Unknown label 0
383 Family/Parents etc. Labour 11
384 Active in local Labour Party 1
385 Time for a change 0
386 Vote for Party that could win 1
387 Tactical vote for Labour 0
388 Labour no chance-but voted for them anyway 0
389 Want Labour have more seats 1
390 Lab fought better campaign 2
396 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
397 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
398 No codes-Other answer 0
400 Negative refs-named Lab. leaders 3
401 General 4
402 Neil Kinnock 11
403 Local people in Party 0
410 Oth negative mentions of party 3
411 Competence in governing 20
412 Can't keep promises/dishonest 3
413 Weak, indecisive 6
414 Divided Party, not divided 5
415 Uncaring, unconcerned 3
416 Divides the Nation 2
417 Party is extreme/hard-line/not moderate 8
420 Oth negative mentions-Philosophies or ideas 0
421 Dislike overall philosophy 15
422 For socialism 4
423 Not concerned with rights 2
424 Social welfare, welfare state 2
425 Equality 4
426 Against tradition, unpatriotic 2
427 Are to Left, not right-wing 16
428 Have no new ideas 0
429 Militant 4
430 Oth negative refs-Foreign policy 0
431 Foreign policy 2
432 Defence 10
433 Nuclear defence issues 11
434 Falklands 0
435 Policy on EEC, Common Market 0
439 General domestic policies 0
440 Other domestic issues 0
441 Budget, managing economy 16
442 Unemployment 3
443 Prices, inflation 1
444 Taxes/cutting taxes/lower taxes 7
445 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 0
446 Nationalisation 8
447 Shares/share ownership/the City 1
448 National Health Service 0
449 Housing policy 0
450 State education 2
451 State pensions/Family allowance 2
452 Private health care/Education/Pensions 0
453 Crime, law and order 1
454 Strikes, industrial relations 0
455 Trade Unions 10
456 Immigration, ethnic minorities 2
457 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 2
458 Women, Women's issues 0
459 Environmental or 'green' issues 2
460 Negative mentions handling oth groups 1
461 Me, I am worse off 5
462 All people, vast majority 2
463 Working people/the less well-off/the poor 3
464 Middle class/better-off 1
465 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
466 The unemployed 1
467 Those working industry/business 0
468 Those working in City/financial services 0
469 Self-employed/small businessmen 1
470 Homeowners 0
471 Council tenants/the homeless 1
472 Shareowners 0
473 Taxpayers 0
474 Pensioners/older people 2
475 Young people 1
476 People in this part of country 1
477 Gays/lesbians/homosexuals 0
478 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 0
479 Public sector workers 1
480 Other responses-Party politics 0
481 Used to be Labour 3
482 Always hated/disliked Labour 3
483 Family etc. hate Labour 0
484 Dislikes local Lab. Party 2
485 Time for a change 0
486 Win anyway-didn't need vote 0
487 Tactical vote against Labour 0
488 Labour no chance-so did not vote for it 2
489 Want Lab have fewer seats 2
490 Labour fought bad campaign 2
494 Unknown label 0
495 Never though about voting Labour 0
496 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
497 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
498 No codes-Other answer 0
500 SDP leaders-Positive refs 0
501 General 0
502 David Owen 4
503 Local people in Party 1
504 Liked two leaders 0
510 Oth pos refs-general images 1
511 Competence in governing 0
512 Keeps promises, honest 4
513 Strong, decisive 3
514 United Party, not divided 0
515 Caring, concerned 1
516 Unites the Nation 0
517 Party is centre/moderate/not extreme 16
518 Alliance like Conservatives 0
519 Alliance like Labour 0
520 Oth pos refs-philosophies or ideas 0
521 Likes overall philosophy/beliefs 9
522 For free/private enterprise 1
523 For individual opportunity 0
524 Social welfare, welfare state 0
525 Equality 1
526 Traditional/Patriotic Party 0
527 Right, not left-wing 0
528 Fresh, new ideas 2
529 Neither left nor right 1
530 Oth pos refs-Foreign policy 0
531 Foreign policy 0
532 Defence 1
533 Keep nuclear weapons 4
534 Falklands 0
535 Policy on EEC, Common Market 0
539 General domestic policies 0
540 Other domestic issues 1
541 Budget, managing economy 0
542 Unemployment 3
543 Prices, inflation 0
544 Taxes/cutting taxes/lower taxes 0
545 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 0
546 For Privatisation 0
547 Share ownership 0
548 National Health Service 1
549 Housing policy 1
550 State education 2
551 State pensions/Family allowance 2
552 Private health care/Education/Pensions 0
553 Crime, law and order 1
554 Strikes, industrial relations 0
555 Trade Unions 1
556 Immigration, ethnic minorities 1
557 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 0
558 Women, Women's issues 0
559 Environmental or 'green' issues 1
560 Pos mentions handling oth groups 0
561 Me, I am better off 2
562 All people, vast majority 2
563 Working people/the less well-off/the poor 5
564 Middle class/better-off 2
565 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
566 The unemployed 1
567 Those working in industry/business 0
568 Those working in City/finance 0
569 Self-employed/small businessmen 0
570 Homeowners 0
571 Council tenants/the homeless 0
572 Shareowners 0
573 Taxpayers 0
574 Pensioners/older people 3
575 Young people 0
576 People in this part of country 9
577 Gays/lesbians/homosexuals 0
578 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 0
579 Public sector workers 0
580 Other responses-Party politics 1
581 Always been Alliance/Liberal 1
583 Family/Parents etc. Alliance 1
584 Active in local SDP/Liberal Party 2
585 Time for a change 7
586 Vote for Party that could win 1
587 Tactical vote for Alliance 0
588 Alliance no chance-but voted for them anyway 3
589 Want Alliance have more seats 1
590 Alliance better campaign 4
591 Likes SDP 1
593 Liked coalition-two parties 0
596 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
597 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
598 No codes-Other answer 0
600 SDP leaders-negative refs 0
601 General 1
602 David Owen 2
603 Local people in Party 0
604 Disliked two leaders 1
610 Oth negative mentions of party 1
611 (In)Competence in governing 6
612 Can't keep promises/dishonest 0
613 Weak, indecisive 3
614 Divided Party, not divided 8
615 Uncaring, unconcerned 1
616 Divides the Nation 0
617 Party too moderate 0
618 Alliance like Conservatives 0
619 Alliance like Labour 0
620 Oth negative mentions-Philosophies or ideas 0
621 Dislike overall philosophy 1
622 For private enterprise 0
623 Individual opp-too much 0
624 Social welfare, welfare state 0
625 Equality 0
626 Against tradition, unpatriotic 1
627 Are to Right, not left-wing 0
628 Have no new ideas 1
629 Negative-Alliance left nor right 0
630 Oth negative refs-Foreign policy 0
631 Foreign policy 0
632 Defence 1
633 Favour Nuclear weapons-negative mentions 0
634 Falklands 0
635 Policy on EEC, Common Market 0
636 Alliance split-nuclear defence 1
639 General domestic policies 0
640 Other domestic issues 0
641 Budget, managing economy 3
642 Unemployment 0
643 Prices, inflation 0
644 Taxes/cutting taxes/lower taxes 0
645 Poll tax/Community charge/Rates 1
646 Privatisation 0
647 Alliance on share ownership 0
648 National Health Service 0
649 Housing policy 0
650 State education 0
651 State pensions/Family allowance 0
652 Private health care/Education/Pensions 0
653 Crime, law and order 0
654 Strikes, industrial relations 0
655 Trade Unions 0
656 Immigration, ethnic minorities 0
657 Gay/lesbian/homosexual issues 0
658 Women, Women's issues 0
659 Environmental or 'green' issues 0
660 Negative mentions grps Alliance supports 0
661 Me, would be worse off 2
662 All people, vast majority 0
663 Not favour working class/less well-off/poor 3
664 Too much favour middle class/better-off 0
665 Trade Unions/Unionists 0
666 The unemployed 0
667 Those working industry/business 0
668 Those working in City/financial services 0
669 Self-employed/small businessmen 0
670 Homeowners 0
671 Council tenants/the homeless 0
672 Shareowners 0
673 Taxpayers 0
674 Pensioners/older people 0
675 Young people 0
676 People in this part of country 1
677 Gays/lesbians/homosexuals 0
678 Ethnic minorities/Blacks/Asians 0
679 Public sector workers 0
680 Other responses-Party politics 0
681 Used to be Alliance 0
682 Always hated/disliked Alliance 0
683 Family etc. hate Alliance (SDP or Liberal) 0
684 Dislikes local SDP/Liberal party 0
685 Time for a change in Alliance 0
686 Win anyway-didn't need vote 0
687 Tactical vote against Alliance 0
688 Alliance no chance-so did not vote for it 4
689 Want Alliance have fewer seats 0
690 Fought bad campaign 0
691 Dislikes SDP 0
693 Merge two parties 1
695 Never though about voting Alliance 0
696 No codes-Inadequate probing 0
697 No codes-Bad handwriting 0
698 No codes-Other answer 0
700 Liberal leaders-Positive refs 0
702 David Steel 2
722 For socialism/social democracy 0
723 For fairness/justice 0
727 Left, not right-wing 0
733 Get rid of nuclear weapons 0
746 For Nationalisation 1
791 Likes Liberal Party 2
800 Liberal leaders-negative refs 0
802 David Steel 0
822 For socialism 0
823 Fairness-too much concern for 0
827 Are to Left, not right-wing 0
833 Oppose nuclear weapons-negative mentions 0
846 Nationalisation 0
863 Too much favour working class/less well-off/poor 0
891 Dislikes Liberal party 0
901 Pro-SNP:looks after Scotland's interests 0
902 Pro-SNP:any reason 2
903 Anti-SNP:any reason 1
921 Pro-Plaid Cymru:looks after Welsh interests 0
922 Pro-Plaid Cymru:any reason 0
923 Anti-Plaid Cymru:any reason 0
941 Positive support-any other party 1
942 Negative support-any other party 0
996 No codes-bad probing 0
997 No codes-illegible handwriting 0
998 Other answers-vague/irrelevant 0
999 Not answered 0
Sysmiss 4784
DisclaimerPlease note that these frequencies are not weighted.
LocationBritish General Election Study, 1987; Cross-Section Survey
UniverseElectors in Great Britain;National
SamplingNationally representative probability sample drawn from the Electoral Registers of England, Wales and Scotland (south of the Caledonian Canal)
Study TypeCross-sectional (one-time) study