The idea that you can impune the survey just because you don’t understand the way it was conducted is not good journalism Tim.

My name is Timothy, I am not a journalist, I understand the way it was conducted, and seriously, Peter, this isn’t a poll you want to defend.

Ambiguous

A question that uses the same term in two different ways is ambiguous. One that does so for a political purpose is dishonest. This poll used the word “partner” in both a very specific way and then asked their “zinger” question in a general way.

First they asked a three questions about Civil Partnerships and whether the participant is in one. Then, having established “partner” as a specific person, they asked this:

“I would get married to my partner if the law permitted it” [emphasis added]

Now the only three possible answers are “applies”, “does not apply”, or “I don’t know”.

So what is the correct answer for a person who support same sex marriage and fully intends to marry some day but does not currently have a partner? Does it “apply” or “not apply”?

Push Poll

Ryan and Eric both did a good job illustrating this.

Basically, Peter, whenever loaded language is used, you can know that a per-defined outcome is the goal. “Should be forced”, “there is no need” and even the term “redefine” illustrate that clearly.

More neutral language might be, for example, the following two balancing questions:

Faith groups should not be allowed to conduct same-sex weddings in their own places of worship, even if doing so is within their doctrine

Faith groups should be required to conduct same-sex weddings in their own places of worship, even if doing so is contrary to their doctrine

Finally,

Peter, I think that if you look at this objectively you’ll agree that this survey is astonishingly bad and thoroughly dishonest.

I don’t think you are a dishonest person. So you really may wish to avoid attaching yourself to something that is so blatantly a violation of God’s commandment that our witness not be false.

For those who try to claim it is not a push poll, the inclusion of this “question” is especially damning. Perhaps the most obvious element of a push poll is the use of negative statements about a political figure designed to influence respondents.

“There is no need to change the law on marriage because Civil Partnerships give all the same rights as marriage”

If this is not a push poll, as Peter claims, perhaps he can explain why these questions (and others) include “because” clauses? The inclusion of such clauses is a textbook example of push polling methodology, and serves no purpose except to bias the responses. Legitimate polls attempt to use neutral language and NEVER include apologetic phrases in questions.

Do you agree or disagree with these statements?

*David Cameron is a good man who believes in equal rights for all English citizens, regardless of sexual orientation

* Generally speaking, the best environment for children is one where they are loved by their parents.

* Marriage can be about both love between two people and about raising children.

* Those who are against marriage equality make it a priority to marginalize and demonize gay people.

* True marriage equality means that gay people are allowed to get married anywhere that straight people are allowed to get married..

* Faith groups should be arrested if they choose to perform gay marriage ceremonies.

* Civil Partnership are separate but equal.

Do you see the difference, now? Do you notice how all the questions I made up are not so much questions as pro-gay marriage talking points designed to “push” a result? That’s what this poll is, in the opposite direction.
I notice you glossed over my statement earlier wondering why the question “do you support legalizing gay marriage, yes or no?” was never asked. Why do you suppose it wasn’t?

TK claims that the language is “ambiguous” but I really can’t see that. Is a statement like “I am in a Civil Partnership” ambiguous? Is “I am not in a Civil Partnership but would seriously consider it” ambiguous?

And the issue of churches being forced to do gender-neutral marriages is one that has come up here in the public conversation around the consultation. I don’t think the poll suggests for a moment that that is what the Government intends, and a polling firm (and it’s clients) are perfectly free to ask the public their opinion about all kinds of issues around public policy.

Now, I think there are issues with the way the poll has been reported (especially how the “don’t knows” have been handled) but that is a different issue as to whether this poll is a “push poll” (and BPC members are required NOT to do push polls, so the allegation is very serious).

There is nothing else wrong with the survey. The questions are not in any way biased and match similar polls conducted both here in the UK and in the US. But perhaps you’d like to tell us all what the questions should have been, rather than telling us all how these questions were SO wrong?

– No, the question was not even asked.

I personally know a lot of people (myself included) who are very critical towards the institution of marriage, who would not consider marrying, but who still hold a strong belief that same-sex couples should have the right to get married if they want to.

That’s about as unusual as snow in Alaska!

They are the eyes, ears, nose and throat of the right wing here in the UK and are almost enough of a reason to move back home, except that no one here expects anything else from them,

Sorry, anyone taking this drivel seriously REALLY needs to take a pill and slow down.