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Below are results from three opinion polls conducted on the arms trade. The questions in CAAT's national opinion poll mirror almost exactly the questions asked in an opinion poll undertaken by the Ministry of Defence five years earlier. Comparison of the results shows a rise in the number of people who support CAAT's arguments on the arms trade, and a falling away in support for the government's position.
CAAT Opinion Poll - May 2003 UK Working Group on Arms - 2002 Ministry of Defence - 1998 In CAAT's 2003 survey, 45% of people questioned said that they agreed with CAAT's position that we should simply not sell military equipment to other countries, whilst only 13% supported the goverment's position that we should sell military equipment to countries not under an embargo. What is remarkable is the major decline this shows in support for the government's so-called ethical arms export policy: In 1998, twice as many people supported CAAT's position rather than the government's, five years later it was three times as many! What is more, if the government were to strengthen export controls and only sell military equipment to EU or NATO countries - which some organisations suggest as a compromise between CAAT's position and that of the government's - that position would still only receive the support of 38% of the public as opposed to 45% who support a complete ban on arms exports. Whilst these are striking figures, there is still a long way to go: 35% of people disagree with CAAT's position and 20% are undecided (70% disagree with the government's position with 16% undecided). CAAT is looking at ways to reach out in particular to the 20% of people who are undecided about the issue. |
Campaign Against Arms Trade, 11 Goodwin St, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HQ
Tel: +44-(0)20 7281 0297 | Fax: +44-(0)20 7281 4369