Friday, April 1, 2016

"David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland"

It's probably not unusual for political parties to commission private polling which tests how voters react to a set of fairly extreme propaganda statements.  However, it's certainly quite rare for us to ever get a look at that polling.  One of the few examples I can think of was a YouGov poll conducted for Archie Stirling's vanity project "Scottish Voice" in the run-up to the 2007 Holyrood election.  The decision to publish it was baffling, given that it showed only around 20% of voters were responsive to even the most absurdly leading questions.

Stirling did of course have the excuse of being a political amateur, but there's no such alibi for UKIP's extraordinary decision to allow Populus to publish a hugely embarrassing private poll that seemingly hoped to establish that the people of Scotland view David Coburn as the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Please read the following statements and tell us whether you agree or disagree with them.

I am personally very angry that David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland, has been excluded from the STV leaders' debate this week.

Agree 3%
Disagree 54%

David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland, hasn't received the recognition he deserves for helping secure a No vote in the independence referendum.

Agree 2%
Disagree 57%

I would despair of Scottish politics if it wasn't for the new hope provided by David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland.

Agree 2%
Disagree 68%

My admiration for David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland, has increased over the last twelve months.

Agree 3%
Disagree 63%

The world needs more strong leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland.

Agree 1%
Disagree 81%

I would be proud to walk down the street wearing a T-shirt featuring an image of David Coburn, leader of UKIP Scotland.

Agree 0%
Diasgree 77%

That's not a typo, by the way - ZERO per cent of respondents fancied bearing an image of Coburn on their chest.  I am quite simply dumbfounded - what possible utility does anyone in UKIP think there is in letting people know that these barking mad questions were even asked in the first place, let alone what the answers were?  Perhaps someone just pressed the wrong button - we'll know for sure that's the case if the poll mysteriously disappears from the Populus website by mid-morning.

28 comments:

  1. Has to be an April Fool one?

    The Fool is ...UKIP.

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  2. The populus weighting looks odd from the tables; UKIP May 2015 voter numbers are too high. Could be a similar problem to Survation.

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  3. The t shirt one was the dead giveaway. My niece was sporting a Ramones one. I told her I had seen them at the Apollo back in the day. She did not know they were a band.

    How many people would wear a tshirt with a picture of a horses arse so long as it was 99 pence?

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  4. Either a wind up or 2 - 3% of the respondents were BBC employees.

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  5. Either a wind up or 2 - 3% of the respondents were BBC employees.

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  6. Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy ?

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  7. Happy first of April!!

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  8. Glasgow Working Class 2April 1, 2016 at 11:17 AM

    If we do the sensible thing and vote to leave the EU then the kipper will be laughing. I do wonder if you Nats sis
    could survive another trauma like September 19 2014. Strange you want to depart from the Union and hand our fate over to Europe. How you must hate the English!

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    Replies
    1. Nigel called. Offer him a pint in a dirty glass again and he'll have you fed to Coburn. Now get back out there with those leaflets before you get the Tank Commander on your case as well.

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    2. Who is this Nathan, and why are you obsessed with his sister?

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    3. I see our resident troll has a sense of humour to match his IQ

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  9. They obviously didn't poll GWC on the last question. Sure he would be happy to wear a DC T Shirt!

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    Replies
    1. Glasgow Working ClassApril 1, 2016 at 12:29 PM

      No, he would have a picture of Adolph Hitler or Joseph Goebbels on it.

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    2. Glasgow Working Class 2April 1, 2016 at 5:58 PM

      Considering you Nat sis are carrying out right wing Tory policies you are probably as nearer to UKIP and right of the Tories.

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    3. Nah, that's you and yer Blairite masters...

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  10. I keep forgetting this is April 1st.

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  11. It turns out that David Coburn himself is more gullible than we are: https://twitter.com/scotlandvotes/status/715820571381071874

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  12. GWC even has time for self irony as it's April Fools day!

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  13. Good to see the people of Scotland want to consign ukip and the UK to the lavatory of history. Happy April fool's day!

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    Replies
    1. Glasgow Working Class 2April 1, 2016 at 5:53 PM

      Yer kiddin is it! Got one from Historic Scotland about the New Fourth Forth Rail Bridge.

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    2. I got one from the Labour party. It was hilarious but I don't think they meant it to be. Mystic McTernan looking into his crystal ball...

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  14. I read the article and thought what a fool to release these figures and near the bottom I realised it was April Fool's Day. Nearly caught me there. You did something like that last year.

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  15. nice post n i really like about ths blog..thanks :)

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