THE MAJORITY of people in the Isle of Man would vote Conservative if they were able to take part in the UK General Election, according to results from a political survey.

The latest statistics from the ‘Manx People Power’ survey show that 55 per cent of those questioned would re-elect David Cameron’s Conservative party, if there was an opportunity to vote. 36 per cent would vote Labour and only 9 per cent would vote Liberal Democrat.

The Question posed to 1,055 people was:  “If there was a General Election in the UK next month, and you were allowed to vote, which Party would you consider voting for?”

Survey organiser Professor High Davidson said today, “The purpose was to cast light on whether political opinion in the Isle of Man was left of centre, centre, or right of centre.

“It’s a question which has never been asked before in the Island, and views have differed on the Island’s likely political complexion.  Now we know.”

Of the responses, 5 per cent refused to answer, 19 per cent said ‘Don’t know’, 2 per cent favoured the BNP, 3 per cent the Green Party, and 5 per cent ‘some other party’.

Professor Davidson added, “It is customary in political polls to find a significant proportion of ‘don’t knows’, especially when a General Election is not close, as is the case in the UK.”

However, a breakdown of the figures showed that younger people would be more inclined to vote Labour. Amongst 16-24 year olds 45 per cent would vote Labour whereas in the over 60s group the proportion voting Conservative rose to 64 per cent.

58 per cent of men preferred Conservative, versus 51 per cent of women.

The MPP Survey was carried out by leading UK research company, HPI Research, and supervised by Alan Cooper, who lives on the Island.