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Media Integrity > Published by Shamik Das, July 11th 2011 at 10:52 am

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

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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.

Rupert-Murdoch-Rebekah-Brooks
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.

  • http://twitter.com/thetimfearn/status/90359641686544385 Tim Fearn

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/donmackeen/status/90359648242241536 donmackeen

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/hhaylo/status/90359942392975360 Hhaylo

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/apertureimage/status/90360174287650816 Chris

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/phillip_blond/status/90360361634643968 Phillip Blond

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/cimidyue/status/90361821600559104 Mark Johnston

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/alex_auron/status/90362250979848192 Alexander C.

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/amandakendal/status/90362569746939905 Amanda Kendal

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/_bleam/status/90362841231654912 Bleam

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/90368119901663233 Michael

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/qPQ5qR

  • http://twitter.com/cutchswife/status/90368491701551104 cutchswife

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/qPQ5qR

  • http://twitter.com/salardeen/status/90368773453918208 salardeen

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” l Left Foot Forward – http://j.mp/qPQ5qR

  • http://twitter.com/othertpa/status/90369000583860224 Other TaxPayers Alli

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/cllrtomneilson/status/90369174840422400 Thomas Neilson

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/dianehain/status/90369469318311936 Diane Hain

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/mik61scot/status/90369663065800705 mike ewart

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence" http://t.co/z0pQRBp

  • http://twitter.com/leninology/status/90369967387721728 leninology

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/dr_tad/status/90370116776247296 Dr_Tad

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/guiltyearth/status/90370892516966401 Dan

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/butternotguns/status/90372240239104000 Butter Not Guns

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/kieronam/status/90372681848991744 Kieron Merrett

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/shiversmith/status/90373097991053312 Siobhain Mary Smith

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/lastpositivist/status/90373305516826624 Liam Bright

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/sandwellgreen/status/90373612451807232 Sandwell Green Party

    Public turns against Murdoch – so why were #Labour and @ed_miliband so quiet about him for so long? #Labourscabs http://t.co/viCFFNm

  • http://twitter.com/peterfainton/status/90379364742602752 peter fainton

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/indiathorogood/status/90380040763736065 India Rose Thorogood

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/simonkillane/status/90384178696306688 Simon

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” http://t.co/pRcwObY

  • http://twitter.com/paulhulbert/status/90384530468380672 PaulHulbert

    RT @simonkillane: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much influence” http://t.co/pRcwObY

  • http://twitter.com/chrisjbd/status/90386031211315200 Chris

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • Selohesra

    People are just anti-Murdoch because of the shameful allegations – that they pretend to dress it up as competition issue is a bit disingenous though. If we were all really that worried about his influence would we not also be worried about the monopoly and advantage that our state broadcaster has and its incidious left wing bias?

  • http://twitter.com/greatexpect87/status/90393495835119617 Great Expectations

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/petbe/status/90394066579234816 Chris Pattison

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • http://twitter.com/ceilidhann/status/90394412953251840 Kayleigh Anne

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • Anon E Mouse

    Selohesra – What is amazing is the hypocrisy from the left – the very author of this article refuses to give up his Sky Sports subscription for example despite constantly whining about big bad Murdoch at every opportunity.

    If everyone who subscribed to Sky stopped paying every month that would be it for BSkyB.

    I have to admire Ed Miliband for having the guts to take on Rupert Murdoch but two months from now when this is long forgotten the hapless Labour leader will face the full might of the free press and basically all he has done here is guarantee he will never be Prime Minister in this country.

    People like Shamik Das here love Sky and willingly hand over their hard earned money every month and 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. Yes everyone is horrified about the listening into private messages and Cameron employing a wrong un like Andy Coulson but that’s hardly the same as making up stories about WMD where thousands of innocent people lose their lives.

    Let’s put this in perspective. All the masses care about is celebrity gossip and sex in their Sunday papers and Murdoch will just relaunch the NOTW in a different guise and Labour will not sleep easily in their beds.

  • http://twitter.com/jaqi/status/90400780745588736 jaqi

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • 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?

  • 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?

  • http://twitter.com/jackielive/status/90416074998296576 Jackie Fleming

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

  • http://twitter.com/interuncut/status/90419769831997440 InternationalUNCUT

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

  • 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.

  • http://twitter.com/panneddead/status/90464415165591553 Nick Panteli

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence" http://t.co/SXvjheN

  • http://twitter.com/kitty_kelliher/status/90464539316985856 Catherine Kelliher

    RT @PannedDead: RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence" http://bit.ly/nf1SZ5

  • Anon E Mouse

    matthew fox – Instead of bringing up topics here such as the economy why not stay on point?

    Whilst I agree that the economy won’t affect Ed Miliband, the tax avoiding multimillionaire that hasn’t done a single days work in his life, it does affect normal people who aren’t toffs like him.

    Regarding your remarks no one is being told how to think by anyone matthew fox. If I don’t agree with a program on the TV I just turn it off. Easy isn’t it?

    Simples you might say and now I’m sure you’ll divulge whether or not you support Rupert Murdoch by subscribing to Sky TV. Bet you do….

  • http://twitter.com/weetedscotland/status/90485240832851968 DJE

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/weetedscotland/status/90485240832851968 DJE

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • Dave Citizen

    Thank goodness we have brains in our heads so we can look beyond petty personality squabbles and focus on the substance.

    I believe in democracy so I think it’s fundamentally wrong for one family to have more than a very modest influence over a country’s politics. The Murdoch bunch certainly fall into the category of far too much power and influence.

    The sooner we curtail such concentrations of wealth and power the better: for democracy and for our chances of building prosperity that serves the majority rather than a small rich elite.

  • Anon E Mouse

    Dave Citizen – Is there a TV in your house capable of watching Sky?

    I’d hate the idea of you supporting the increase of wealth of a small rich elite….

  • http://twitter.com/joicelynne/status/90491697217290240 Joicelynne Slater

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has “too much …: No “Trusty Swords Of Truth” stu… http://bit.ly/nMjrxy

  • matthew fox

    I see our resident rodent is dodging his own comments. He runs away from the decline in UK Manufacturing under Osborne watch.

    He prefers to be spoon fed how to think, I appreciate why, rodents by nature are submissive in nature.

    The phrase ” empty vessel ” springs to mind.

  • Dave Citizen

    Anon – I don’t see what my decision to buy Sky or not has to do with deciding what should be done about extreme concentrations of wealth, power and influence in our democracy. That’s like saying: anyone who smokes can’t urge their children not to. Or, people who send their children to Eton can’t argue that society would be better if such elite privileges were ended.

    To answer your question: no I don’t have Sky.

  • http://twitter.com/wolfstar_de/status/90544395945906176 wolfst∇r

    RT @leftfootfwd: Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://t.co/9qjZqMX #NotW

  • http://twitter.com/sunilbhardwaj15/status/90647443460468736 sunil bhardwaj

    Public turn on Murdoch: 70% oppose BSkyB takeover, 72% say he has "too much influence": http://bit.ly/rbmmHp #NotW #phonehacking

  • Roger Rederer

    Going off topic slightly; I’d like to know of anybody who’s been sent to jail for the offence of not paying their tv licence. A handful of people have done a bit of time for refusing to pay the fine, but that’s another crime altogether.
    For what it’s worth I consider the BBC to be value for money (less than 3quid a week!).
    Now the Scum has been dragged into the frame it’s only a matter of time before advertisers start pulling out. The reptillian digger will soon scurry off back to his island off the Gold Coast. Even this old trash peddler can’t hold back the tide of public outrage.

  • Anon E Mouse

    matthew fox – Huh?

  • Anon E Mouse

    Dave Citizen – It goes to integrity – something seemingly lacking in Labour activists it appears.

    The reason we are discussing Sky TV is if someone pays to fund Rupert Murdoch, like Shamik Das for example, then to criticise the character of the man whilst funding him is just double standard hypocrisy. If everybody stopped giving Murdoch their money he wouldn’t be in business.

    None of your other examples can realistically be affected by not funding them but Murdoch can and it has been shown to be effective re NOTW.

    If men do not have the courage of their convictions then what is the point? If Neil Kinnock or John Prescott claim they would never enter the House of Lords and then do it. If Diane Abbott sends her children to a private school or Harriet Harman is educated at the same place as the chancellor and allows a “toffs” campaign in Labour and her husband gets through her “all women” shortlist it just stinks.

    Your post is nothing more than a reason to excuse double standards and to allow Labour to appear to be able to do anything in complete contravention to founding mission of the party about representing the working classes in this country.

    I love Kinnocks speech and may I suggest you just watch it one more time Dave Citizen – it still raises the hairs on my neck!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRUEenPlXpU

  • Dave Citizen

    Thanks for the link – don’t quite get the relevance unless you are referring to your own dogmatic adherence to a black and white vision of the world that pits 1970s socialists against 1980s free marketeers.