Opinion polling for the 1997 United Kingdom general election

Opinion polling for the 1997 United Kingdom general election was carried out by various organisations to gauge voting intention. The opinion polls listed range from the previous election on 9 April 1992 to the election on 1 May 1997.

Most opinion polls do not cover Northern Ireland, since its 18 seats were not contested by the political parties standing for election in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Graphical summary By the end of 1992 Labour had established a lead over the Conservatives which lasted until the 1997 election.

National poll results Most national opinion polls do not cover Northern Ireland, which has different major political parties from the rest of the United Kingdom. Most polls listed only cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), and exclude Northern Ireland unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding, total figures may not add up to 100%. The lead is calculated by subtracting the polling percentage of the first party (shaded in the party's colour, and in bold) by that of the second party.

1997

Date(s)conductedPollsterClientConLabLDRfrLead1 May 19971997 general election31.4%44.4%17.2%2.7%13.0 30 Apr MORIEvening Standard29%47%19%–18 29–30 Apr ICMThe Guardian33%43%18%–10 29–30 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph33%46%16%1%13 29 Apr MORIThe Times27%51%15%–24 29 Apr NOPReuters28%50%14%–22 28–29 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph31%51%13%–20 28–29 Apr HarrisThe Independent31%48%15%–17 26–28 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph29%51%13%–22 24–28 Apr GallupChannel 431%49%14%–18 25–27 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%49%14%–19 24–26 Apr GallupThe Sunday Telegraph31%48%13%–17 25 Apr NOPThe Sunday Times29%47%16%–18 23–25 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%48%14%–16 23–25 Apr ICMThe Observer32%47%16%–15 23–24 Apr MORIIndependent on Sunday29%53%12%3%24 22–24 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%48%12%–16 21–23 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%50%12%–20 22 Apr MORIThe Times27%48%17%3%21 20–22 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%51%12%4%21 18–22 Apr GallupChannel 431%50%13%–19 20–21 Apr ICMThe Guardian37%42%14%–5 18–21 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%48%12%3%16 20 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%48%13%–16 19–20 Apr HarrisThe Independent30%48%15%–18 16–19 Apr GallupThe Sunday Telegraph31%50%13%–19 18 Apr NOPThe Sunday Times29%47%17%–18 16–18 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%50%13%2%18 16–18 Apr ICMThe Observer31%48%15%–17 15–17 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph31%50%12%–19 14–16 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph31%50%11%–19 15 Apr MORIThe Times32%49%13%2%17 13–15 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%51%12%3%21 13–14 Apr ICMThe Guardian31%45%19%–14 12–14 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%49%14%–17 11–14 Apr HarrisThe Independent31%49%13%–18 11–14 Apr MORIEvening Standard29%50%15%–21 13 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%50%14%–20 10–12 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%49%14%–17 9–12 Apr GallupThe Sunday Telegraph31%50%13%–19 11 Apr NOPThe Sunday Times28%49%16%–21 9–11 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%52%11%–20 9–11 Apr ICMThe Observer32%48%15%–16 8–10 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%52%11%–22 7–9 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph29%53%12%–24 8 Apr MORIThe Times34%49%12%1%15 6–8 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph32%51%11%–19 6–7 Apr ICMThe Guardian34%46%15%–12 5–7 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph33%53%10%–20 4–7 Apr HarrisThe Independent28%54%12%–26 4–6 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph30%55%10%–25 4 Apr NOPReuters29%52%11%–23 2–4 Apr ICMThe Observer30%50%14%–20 3 Apr NOPThe Sunday Times28%52%12%–24 3 Apr HarrisCentral News29%55%11%–26 2–3 Apr MORIIndependent on Sunday30%55%9%3%25 1–3 Apr GallupChannel 430%54%11%–24 26 Mar – 2 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph31%52%11%1%215 Mar – 2 AprG9000N/A29.8%53.7%10.8%–23.9 1 Apr MORIThe Times28%55%11%2%27 27–31 Mar HarrisThe Independent28%52%14%3%24 29–31 Mar ICMThe Guardian32%46%17%–14 21–24 Mar MORIThe Times29%50%14%3%21 20–24 Mar HarrisThe Independent28%56%10%2%28 19–21 Mar GallupThe Sunday Telegraph27%56%11%–29 15–17 Mar GallupThe Daily Telegraph28.5%56.5%9.5%1.5%28 14–17 Mar HarrisThe Independent27%58%10%2%31 14 Mar NOPReuters29%54%11%–25 13 Mar NOPThe Sunday Times26%54%13%–28 7–10 Mar HarrisThe Independent26%53%14%–27 9 Mar ORBLadbrokes26%56%12%–30 28 Feb – 4 Mar GallupThe Daily Telegraph28%54%12.5%2%2610 Feb – 4 MarG9000N/A32.8%50.9%10.8%–18.1 28 Feb – 3 Mar HarrisThe Independent30%55%10%–25 28 Feb – 2 Mar ICMThe Guardian30%48%16%–1827 FebWirral South by-election (Lab gain from Con) 21–24 Feb MORIThe Times31%52%11%2%21 21 Feb NOPReuters29%51%14%2%22 13 Feb NOPThe Sunday Times30%49%13%–19 30 Jan – 4 Feb GallupThe Daily Telegraph34%49%12%1%15 31 Jan – 2 Feb ICMThe Guardian32%48%15%–16 24–28 Jan MORIThe Times30%55%11%–258–28 JanG9000N/A33%50.5%11.3%1.3%17.5 16 Jan NOPThe Sunday Times31%54%12%1%23 11–15 Jan GallupThe Daily Telegraph32.5%50.5%10.5%–18 5 Jan ORBLadbrokes30%53%12%–23 3–5 Jan ICMThe Guardian31%48%16%–17

1996

Date(s)conductedPollsterClientConLabLDLead 14 Dec ICMThe Observer30%50%14%2012 DecBarnsley East by-election (Lab hold) 9 Dec MORIThe Times30%51%13%21 2 Dec GallupThe Daily Telegraph22%59%12%37 1 Dec ICMThe Guardian31%50%15%19 29 Nov MORIThe European30%52%13%22 14 Nov NOPThe Sunday Times26%56%13%30 11 Nov MORIThe Times33%50%12%17 5 Nov GallupThe Daily Telegraph28%55%11%17 2 Nov ICMThe Guardian34%47%15%13 1 Nov MORIMail on Sunday30%54%12%24 28 Oct MORIThe Times28%56%12%18 21 Oct MORIN/A27%54%12%17 17 Oct NOPThe Sunday Times33%47%14%24 14 Oct MORIN/A30%53%12%23 7 Oct MORIN/A29%54%13%25 5 Oct ICMThe Guardian31%49%16%18 4 Oct GallupThe Daily Telegraph24%57%15%33 3 Oct NOPThe Sunday Times25%57%13%32 1 Oct GallupThe Daily Telegraph27.5%52%15%24.5 24 Sep GallupThe Daily Telegraph27%54%13.5%27 23 Sep MORIThe Times29%52%14%23 19 Sep NOPThe Sunday Times31%50%14%19 9 Sep MORIN/A28%56%12%28 7 Sep ICMThe Guardian32%47%16%15 3 Sep GallupThe Daily Telegraph25.5%58.5%11%33 25 Aug MORIThe Times30%51%13%27 15 Aug NOPThe Sunday Times28%54%14%26 12 Aug MORIN/A30%52%13%22 5 Aug GallupThe Daily Telegraph25%59%11%34 3 Aug ICMThe Guardian33%45%19%12 28 Jul MORIThe Times29%53%12%24 25 Jul NOPThe Sunday Times29%51%16%22 6 Jul ICMThe Guardian30%45%21%15 1 Jul GallupThe Daily Telegraph26%54.5%14.5%28.5 1 Jul MORIN/A32%52%12%20 24 Jun MORIThe Times31%52%12%21 20 Jun NOPThe Sunday Times27%55%15%28 10 Jun MORIN/A27%56%13%29 6 Jun ICMThe Guardian30%46%19%16 3 Jun GallupThe Daily Telegraph22.5%57%16%34.5 2 Jun ICMThe Guardian30%46%19%1630 MayNorthern Ireland Forum election 26 May MORIThe Times27%54%15%27 16 May NOPThe Sunday Times27%52%17%25 13 May MORIN/A27%56%13%29 6 May GallupThe Daily Telegraph24.5%55.5%15.5%31 5 May ICMThe Guardian28%45%21%17 3 May ICMThe Sunday Express26%52%15%262 MayLocal elections in England 27 Apr MORIThe Sun29%54%13%25 25 Apr NOPThe Sunday Times28%52%16%24 22 Apr MORIThe Times28%54%14%26 13 Apr ICMThe Guardian29%50%17%2111 AprSouth East Staffordshire by-election (Lab gain from Con) 1 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph26%55.5%15.5%29.5 25 Mar MORIThe Times28%57%13%29 14 Mar NOPThe Sunday Times27%55%14%28 11 Mar MORIN/A29%55%13% 26 4 Mar GallupThe Daily Telegraph23%57.5%16%34.5 4 Mar ICMThe Guardian31%45%20%14 26 Feb MORIThe Times26%57%14%31 16 Feb NOPThe Sunday Times25%54%16% 29 12 Feb MORIN/A26%57%14% 31 5 Feb GallupThe Daily Telegraph28%54.5%14.5% 26.5 4 Feb ICMThe Guardian31%47%19%161 FebHemsworth by-election (Lab hold) 29 Jan MORIN/A28%54%15% 26 22 Jan MORIThe Times29%55%13%26 19 Jan NOPThe Sunday Times25%54%18%25 17 Jan NOPN/A33%47%14% 14 8 Jan GallupThe Daily Telegraph21%60.5%14.5%39.5 6 Jan ICMThe Guardian26%48%22% 22 3 Jan NOPThe Sunday Times29%52%13% 23

1995

Date(s)conductedPollsterClientConLabLDLead 15 Dec NOPThe Sunday Times25%55%16% 30 14 Dec ICMThe Observer30%50%14% 20 9 Dec ICMThe Guardian26%48%22%22 4 Dec GallupThe Daily Telegraph23%62%12% 39 4 Dec MORIThe Times28%55%13%27 1 Dec NOPThe Sunday Times25%57%15%32 20 Nov MORIThe Times26%56%14% 30 17 Nov NOPThe Sunday Times27%56%13%29 5 Nov ICMThe Guardian31%48%16% 17 30 Oct GallupThe Daily Telegraph21.5%61%14.5%39.5 23 Oct MORIThe Times27%56%13% 29 20 Oct NOPThe Sunday Times23%59%15% 36 7 Oct ICMThe Guardian30%47%19% 17 2 Oct GallupThe Daily Telegraph25.5%55.5%14%30 25 Sep MORIThe Times28%51%16% 23 15 Sep NOPThe Sunday Times27%53%17% 26 9 Sep ICMThe Guardian31%48%17%17 4 Sep GallupThe Daily Telegraph26.5%54.5%14%28 28 Aug MORIThe Times25%56%15% 31 18 Aug NOPThe Sunday Times24%57%15%33 5 Aug ICMThe Guardian31%48%17% 17 31 Jul GallupThe Daily Telegraph22.5%57.5%14.5% 35 31 Jul ICMThe Daily Express24%58%14%3427 JulLittleborough and Saddleworth by-election (LD gain from Con) 24 Jul MORIThe Times26%59%12% 33 21 Jul MORILondon Weekend Television30%52%13%22 21 Jul NOPThe Sunday Times26%55%14% 29 8 Jul ICMThe Guardian32%47%17%154 JulJohn Major is re-elected leader of the Conservative Party in a leadership challenge 3 Jul GallupThe Daily Telegraph25.5%57%13% 31.5 3 Jul MORIThe European33%52%10%19 27 Jun MORIThe Economist31%55%11%24 26 Jun MORIThe Times29%56%13%27 24 Jun MORIMail on Sunday32%54%11%2215 JunNorth Down by-election (UKUP gain from UPUP) 10 Jun ICMThe Guardian24%53%19%29 5 Jun GallupThe Daily Telegraph20%59.5%14.5%39.525 MayPerth and Kinross by-election (SNP gain from Con) 22 May MORIThe Times22%58%16%36 13 May ICMThe Guardian29%48%19%19 8 May GallupThe Daily Telegraph23%55.5%16.5%32.54 May Local elections in England and Wales 24 Apr MORIThe Times26%56%15%30 8 Apr ICMThe Guardian26%51%18%256 AprLocal elections in Scotland 3 Apr GallupThe Daily Telegraph23%57.5%15%34.5 24 Mar MORIThe Sunday Times25%59%12%34 20 Mar MORIThe Times25%57%13%32 11 Mar ICMThe Guardian27%52%17%25 27 Feb GallupThe Daily Telegraph20.5%60.5%15%40 20 Feb MORIThe Times24%58%14%3416 FebIslwyn by-election (Lab hold) 11 Feb ICMThe Guardian31%49%17%18 30 Jan GallupThe Daily Telegraph23.5%59.5%13%36 23 Jan MORIThe Times27%56%14%29 14 Jan ICMThe Guardian30%48%18%18 13 Jan HarrisThe Sunday Times25%60%12%35 9 Jan GallupThe Daily Telegraph18.5%62%14% 43.5

1994