different policies, different attitudes? john curtice strathclyde university/natcen
TRANSCRIPT
Different policies, Different attitudes?
John Curtice
Strathclyde University/NatCen
Key Question
Marked difference in approach to public service provision between England and Wales/Scotland. Choice/diversity of provision Co-Payment
Does difference reflect differences in public attitudes?
Or is difference created by devolution?
Evidence
Surveys of public opinion in all four parts of the UK in 2007
British Social Attitudes (2,022; 1,735 in E)Scottish Social Attitudes (1,508)Northern Ireland Life & Times (1,179)Special Welsh survey (884)
A Common Presumption
Wales/Scotland more left-wing than England.
So less likely to favour private provision, co-payment and, perhaps, choice.
But do attitudes fit a left-right framework?
The arguments - 1
Choice Exercised more effectively by middle class Promoting it means working class choose too
Diversity Private profit at taxpayers’ expense Essential if choice to be effective
The arguments - 2
Co-Payment Ensure nobody denied service because of
inability to pay Free service is subsidy to the middle class
Do contradictory arguments mean politics matters?
Choice of Hospital
26
49
21
3
41
41
143
33
42
19
5
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
England Wales Scotland
NoneA LittleQuite a LotGreat Deal
Choice of School
31
50
152
36
43
154
27
45
19
4
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
England Wales Scotland
NoneA LittleQuite a LotGreat Deal
Private companies run state schools?
2014
11
53
64 66
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Support Oppose
EnglandWalesScotland
Private companies run NHS hospitals?
2318 17
56
64 65
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Support Oppose
EnglandWalesScotland
Private companies provide personal care?
31 29 28
43
50 51
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Support Oppose
EnglandWalesScotland
Choice and Markets?
24
18
25
19
0
5
10
15
20
25
% s
up
po
rt b
usi
nes
s ru
n
Schools Hospitals
Pro-Choice Not Keen
Left/Right and Choice
33
22
27
22
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
% g
reat
dea
l ch
oic
e
School Hospital
LeftRight
Left/Right and Private Provision
17
25
19
29
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
% s
up
po
rt
Schools Hospitals
LeftRight
Average Left/Right Score
2.63 2.56 2.62
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Ave Score
EnglandScotlandWales
Hospital Choice, L/R and Country
28
44
35
22
41
36
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
% g
reat
dea
l ch
oic
e
Left Right
EnglandWalesScotland
Private Hospitals, L/R and Country
20
14 15
29
2527
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
% s
up
po
rt
Left Right
EnglandWalesScotland
Different Competition - Private Cos run Hospitals
60
4954
68 71
60
7265
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% o
pp
ose
England Wales Scotland
ConLabNat
Different Competition - Private Cos run Schools
50
64
55
72 73
53
7167
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% o
pp
ose
England Wales Scotland
ConLabNat
Attitudes to Co-Payment - 1
38
62
46
2531 30
4147
55
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
Prescriptions Tuition Fees Personal Care
EnglandWalesScotland
Attitudes to Co-Payment - 2
34
47 46
3240 41
7278 81
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
Music Lessons Museum Trips GP visits
EnglandWalesScotland
Left/Right and Co-Pay - 1
44
38
27 27
4440
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
Prescriptions Tuition Fees Personal Care
LeftRight
Left/Right and Co-Pay - 2
38
26
35
24
7772
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
Music Lessons Museum Trips GP Visit
LeftRight
Different Competition - Prescription Charges
3340
51
64
73
35
46 43
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
England Wales Scotland
ConLabNat
Different Competition - Tuition Fees
22
2630 29
39
3027
33
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
% o
pp
ose
ch
arg
ing
England Wales Scotland
ConLabNat
Conclusion
Differences of attitude generally less than differences of policy
Such differences as exist not a result of more ‘left-wing’ values in Wales/Scotland
Attitudes not structured as often assumedDifferences of policy do reflect differences
in party competition - generated by devolution