Opinion polling for the 1983 United Kingdom general election

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In the run-up to the 1983 general election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention. Results of such polls are displayed in this article. The date ranges for these opinion polls are from the 1979 general election until 6 June 1983.

Contents

Graph of opinion polls conducted

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Conservative
Labour
SDP-Liberal Alliance 1983 Election Polls.svg
Graph of opinion polls conducted
  Conservative  Labour  SDP–Liberal Alliance

Polling results

All data is from UK Polling Report. [1]

1983

Survey
end date
PollsterClient Con Lab All Lead
9 June 1983 general election 42.4%27.6%25.4%14.8%
8 JunHarrisThe Observer47%26%25%21%
8 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph47%25%26%21%
8 JunMarplanThe Guardian45.5%26.5%26%19%
8 JunNOPNorthcliffe46%26%26%20%
8 JunMORIEvening Standard47%25%26%21%
8 JunNOPDaily Mail44%28%26%16%
7 JunAudience SelectionThe Sun46%28%24%18%
7 JunMarplanThe Guardian46%23%29%17%
6 JunAudience SelectionThe Sun47%26%25%21%
5 JunHarrisThe Observer45%24%28%17%
3 JunMarplanSunday Mirror47%28%23%19%
3 JunNOPThe Mail on Sunday44%27%27.5%16.5%
3 JunGallupThe Sunday Telegraph47%29%23%18%
2 JunMORIThe Sunday Times45.5%31.5%22%14%
2 JunMORIDaily Express45%28%25%17%
2 JunMarplanThe Guardian43%32%23%11%
1 JunHarrisTV-Eye47%30%22%17%
1 JunMORIDaily Star46%28%24%18%
31 MayAudience SelectionThe Sun44%32%21%12%
31 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%29%25%15%
30 MayAudience SelectionTV-AM47.5%28%23%19.5%
30 MayHarrisThe Observer41%30%24%11%
27 MayMarplanSunday Mirror47%30%21%17%
27 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph49.5%31%19%18.5%
26 MayMORIDaily Express49%31.5%18%17.5%
26 MayMarplanThe Guardian51%29%19%22%
25 MayHarrisThames47.5%32.5%19%15%
25 MayMORIThe Sunday Times48%33%18%15%
25 MayAudience SelectionThe Sun46%30%23%16%
24 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph45%32%21%13%
23 MayAudience SelectionTV-AM48%33%18%15%
23 MayMORIDaily Star45%32%20%13%
23 MayNOPDaily Mail51%33%15%18%
23 MayHarrisThe Observer52%33%14%19%
20 MayMarplanSunday Mirror45%36%18%9%
20 MayMORIDaily Express47%34%18%13%
19 MayMORIThe Sunday Times46%37%16%9%
18 MayHarrisThames47%30%21%17%
18 MayNOPDaily Mail45%35%17%10%
17 MayAudience SelectionThe Sun49%31%19%18%
17 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%33%21%11%
16 MayMORIDaily Star46%33%19%13%
16 MayAudience SelectionTV-AM44%37%17%7%
16 MayMORIDaily Express46%31%21%15%
13 MayThe Dissolution of the 48th Parliament and campaigning officially begins
12 MayMORIN/A49%34%15%15%
11 MayHarrisThames46%32%22%14%
11 MayMORIDaily Star52%31%17%21%
10 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph46%31%21%15%
9 MayMORIN/A49%31.5%17.5%17.5%
5 May 1983 local elections [2]
25 AprMORIN/A45%30%23%15%
23 AprMORIN/A46%33%21%13%
12 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%34%22%9%
11 AprMORIN/A40.5%35%22.5%5.5%
24 Mar Darlington by-election
23 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%28%28%15%
21 MarMORIN/A39.5%28.5%29%10.5%
16 MarMORIN/A42%28%27%14%
9 MarMORIN/A41%27%30%11%
26 FebMORIN/A39%26%34%5%
24 Feb Bermondsey by-election
23 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph46%32%21%14%
14 FebMORIN/A43.5%32.5%22%11%
9 FebMORIN/A45%32%21%13%
26 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%36%19%8%
17 JanMORIN/A44%31.5%22.5%12.5%
12 JanMORIN/A44%35%20%9%

1982

Survey
end date
PollsterClient Con Lab All Lead
15 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%35%21%7%
13 DecMORIN/A41%34.5%22%6.5%
2 Dec Glasgow Queen's Park by-election
24 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%35%21%8%
15 NovMORIN/A42%34.5%21.5%7.5%
10 NovMORIN/A42%33%23%9%
28 Oct Birmingham Northfield and Peckham by-elections
26 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%32%23%11%
25 OctMORIN/A40.5%29%27%11.5%
20 Oct 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly election [3]
12 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%33%23%9%
16 Sep Gower by-election
13 SepMORIN/A44%30.5%23%13.5%
31 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%30%27%12%
16 AugMORIN/A44.5%26.5%27.5%17%
31 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%30%23%14%
12 JulMORIN/A46.5%27.5%24%19%
2 Jul Roy Jenkins is elected leader of the Social Democratic Party [4]
30 JunMORIN/A45%31%22%14%
24 Jun Coatbridge and Airdrie by-election
23 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph51%24%23%27%
14 JunMORIN/A45%25%28.5%16.5%
14 Jun The Falklands War ends [5]
3 Jun Mitcham and Morden by-election
31 MayMORIN/A48%28%24%20%
27 May Beaconsfield by-election
26 MayMORIN/A51%25%23%26%
23 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph48%31%20%17%
16 MayMORIN/A41.5%28%29%12.5%
16 MayMORIN/A48%33%17%15%
6 May 1982 United Kingdom local elections [6]
5 MayMORIN/A38%32%28%6%
30 AprMORIN/A44%30%24%14%
30 AprMORIN/A43%30%25%13%
24 AprMORIN/A39%32%27%7%
21 AprMORIN/A36%30%31%5%
14 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph33%34%30%1%
12 AprMORIN/A31.5%29%37%5.5%
2 Apr The Falklands War begins [7]
31 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph35%30%33%2%
25 Mar Glasgow Hillhead by-election
15 MarMORIN/A31.5%33%33%Tie
4 Mar Belfast South by-election
28 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph34%34%30%Tie
15 FebNOPDaily Mail27.5%34%36%2%
5 FebMORIN/A41%36%21%5%
31 JanMORIN/A30%33%34%1%
25 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph29%30%40%10%
18 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph27.5%29.5%39.5%10%

1981

Survey
end date
PollsterClient Con Lab All Lead
14 DecMORIN/A23%23.5%50.5%27%
14 DecNOPN/A27%29%43%14%
3 DecMORIN/A30.5%34.3%33.1%1.2%
1 DecNOPN/A27%27%44%17%
1 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph28.6%32.1%37.1%5%
26 Nov Crosby by-election
16 NovNOPN/A26.5%29%42%13%
6 NovMORIN/A29.2%38.2%30.6%7.6%
27 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph27%31%40%9%
26 OctNOPN/A29.5%28%40%12%
22 Oct Croydon North West by-election
8 OctMORIN/A32.1%40.4%24.7%8.3%
28 SepMORIN/A28%42%28%14%
18 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph27%38%33%5%
14 SepNOPN/A32%36.5%29%7.5%
11 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph33.5%37.4%27.7%3.9%
20 Aug Fermanagh & South Tyrone second by-election
17 AugNOPN/A28%38.5%32.5%6%
7 AugMORIN/A31.6%42.1%24.3%10.5%
31 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph30%39%29%9%
16 Jul Warrington by-election
13 JulNOPN/A30%40.5%26.5%10.5%
9 JulMORIN/A31.5%41.2%24.2%9.7%
30 JunMORIN/A30%36%31%6%
22 JunMORIN/A31%39%28%8%
16 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph37%39%22%2%
15 JunNOPN/A29.5%37.5%30.5%8%
5 JunMORIN/A37.7%39.3%20.8%1.6%
30 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph35%39%24%4%
11 MayMORIN/A32%35.5%29%3.5%
11 MayNOPN/A38%41%19%3%
7–20 May 1981 United Kingdom local elections [8]
7 MayMORIN/A30.9%39.3%26.6%8.4%
27 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph30%38%29%8%
13 AprNOPN/A30%34.5%33%4.5%
9 Apr Fermanagh & South Tyrone by-election
3 AprMORIN/A35.9%42.1%19.5%6.2%
26 MarThe Social Democratic Party is formed [9]
23 MarMORIN/A33%41%25%8%
23 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph28%38%32%10%
16 MarNOPN/A30%34%32%4%
2 MarNOPN/A37%41.1%16.5%4.1%
13 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph34.5%50.9%12.2%16.4%
11 FebMORIN/A36%35.5%26.5%0.5%
24 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph35%45%17%10%
19 JanNOPN/A33%46.5%18.5%13.5%
9 JanMORIN/A35.4%51.2%11.9%15.8%

1980

Survey
end date
PollsterClient Con Lab Lib Lead
19 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph32%56%11%24%
15 DecNOPN/A35%47.5%14.5%12.5%
4 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph37.2%47.7%12.6%10.5%
17 NovMORIN/A36.5%47%15%10.5%
11 NovNOPN/A38%47%13%9%
10 Nov Michael Foot becomes leader of the Labour Party [10]
7 NovMORIN/A39.4%46.5%12.4%7.1%
31 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph36%50%13%14%
20 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph40%43%13.5%3%
6 OctNOPN/A40%43%13.5%3%
2 OctMORIN/A39.8%47.6%11%7.8%
30 SepMORIN/A34%50%15%16%
29 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph37%46%15%9%
15 SepNOPN/A35.5%45%16.5%9.5%
5 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph40%46.3%11.3%6.3%
18 AugNOPN/A38.5%44%14.5%5.5%
1 AugMORIN/A38.1%47.3%11.7%9.2%
31 JulMORIN/A37%48%13%11%
27 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph37%47%13%10%
14 JulNOPN/A40%43.5%14%3.5%
3 JulMORIN/A41%46.9%10.4%5.9%
26 Jun Glasgow Central by-election
23 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%43%13%2%
16 JunNOPN/A40.5%45%11.5%4.5%
6 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%43.3%11.7%0.3%
19 MayNOPN/A39%43.5%15.5%4.5%
1 MayMORIN/A41.4%46.5%10.7%5.1%
1 May 1980 United Kingdom local elections [11]
28 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph39%44%14%5%
14 AprNOPN/A36.5%45%15%8.5%
11 AprMORIN/A35.5%49.6%10.9%14.1%
28 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%46%9%4%
17 MarNOPN/A37%49.5%11.5%12.5%
13 Mar Southend East by-election
5 MarMORIN/A35.7%51.9%11.2%16.2%
29 FebMORIN/A38%46%13%8%
25 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph38%46%14%8%
11 FebNOPN/A37.5%42%18%4.5%
8 FebMORIN/A37.2%50.3%10.7%13.1%
19 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph39%47%12%8%
14 JanNOPN/A36%45%16%9%
4 JanMORIN/A40.1%48.5%9.5%8.4%

1979

Survey
end date
PollsterClient Con Lab Lib Lead
31 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph40%43%14%3%
13 Dec South West Hertfordshire by-election
10 DecNOPN/A38%42%18%4%
6 DecMORIN/A42.1%46.3%10.1%4.2%
2 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph40%45%13%5%
12 NovNOPN/A39%43.5%15.5%4.5%
9 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.9%47.2%10%6.3%
15 OctNOPN/A40.5%45%12.5%4.5%
6 OctMORIN/A44.9%46%7.4%1.1%
30 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%46%11%5%
27 Sep Manchester Central by-election
17 SepNOPN/A40.5%45%12%4.5%
2 SepMORIN/A42.8%47.3%8.6%4.5%
31 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%43%12%1%
13 AugNOPN/A41.5%44%12.5%2.5%
5 AugMORIN/A43.1%45.4%9.5%2.3%
31 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%45%9%1%
16 JulNOPN/A41%46%11.5%5%
7 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph44.2%45.5%8.2%1.3%
18 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%43.5%12%1.5%
7 Jun 1979 European Parliament election [12]
3 May 1979 United Kingdom local elections [13]
3 May 1979 general election 43.9%36.9%13.8%7%

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References

  1. "UK Polling Report". ukpollingreport.co.uk. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  2. Carvel, John (6 May 1983). "Thatcher gets June signals from voters". The Guardian .
  3. Beresford, David (21 October 1982). "Second attack on Unionist leader as Ulster goes to polls". The Guardian .
  4. Brown, Colin (3 July 1982). "Jenkins victory boosts Alliance". The Guardian .
  5. Fairhall, David; Brown, Paul; Morgan, Jeremy (15 June 1982). "Troops surrender at Port Stanley". The Guardian .
  6. Carvel, John (7 May 1982). "Tories fight off challenge by Labour as Alliance falters". The Guardian .
  7. Fairhall, David; Morgan, Jeremy (3 April 1982). "Argentine action in Falklands stuns Cabinet". The Guardian .
  8. Carvel, John (8 May 1981). "Labour swings to victory, but no landslide". The Guardian .
  9. Aitken, Ian (26 March 2021). "SDP launches itself onto the British political stage – archive, 1981". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. Aitken, Ian (11 November 1980). "Labour picks Foot to heal party splits". The Guardian .
  11. Langdon, Julia (2 May 1980). "Tories deserted by voters in Labour advance". The Guardian .
  12. Palmer, John (7 June 1979). "Banging the nationalist drum inside Europe". The Guardian .
  13. Hencke, David (5 May 1979). "Consolation prize for Labour". The Guardian .