Opinion polling for the 1979 United Kingdom general election

In the run-up to the 1979 general election, various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention. Results of such polls are displayed in this article. The date range for these opinion polls are from the October general election until 3 May 1979.

Graphical summaries The chart below depicts opinion polls conducted for the 1979 United Kingdom general election.

National Poll Results All data is from UK Polling Report.

1979 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead3 May1979 general election36.9%43.9%13.8%7%2 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph38.5%49%9%10.5%2 MayNOPDaily Mail39%46%12.5%7%2 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%43%13.5%2%2 MayMORIEvening Standard37%45%15%8%1 MayMORIDaily Express38.8%44.4%13.5%5.6%1 MayMarplanThe Sun38.5%45%9%6.5%30 AprNOPDaily Mail43.1%42.4%12.2%0.7%26 AprMORIDaily Express41%44%12%3%25 AprGallupThe Sunday Telegraph40%48%10.5%8%25 AprResearch SrvThe Observer38%49.5%10%11.5%25 AprMarplanThe Sun40%48%10%8%23 AprMORIDaily Express40%46%11%6%21 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph41.5%46.5%10%5%19 AprMarplanThe Sun40%50%9%10%18 AprGallupThe Sunday Telegraph42%47.5%9%5.5%18 AprMarplanThe Sun41%51%6%10%18 AprResearch SrvThe Observer34%54%9.5%20%17 AprMORIDaily Express38%50%10%12%14 AprNOPDaily Mail42%48%8%6%11 AprResearch SrvThe Observer37%53%8%16%9 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph40%50%8%10%9 AprMORIDaily Express39%49%10%10%7 AprThe Dissolution of the 47th Parliament and campaigning officially begins4 AprResearch SrvThe Observer33.5%54.5%9%21%3 AprNOPDaily Mail42%48%8%6%2 AprMORIDaily Express38%51%10%13%29 MarMORIThames42%51%5%9%29 MarLiverpool Edge Hill by-election28 MarThe vote of no confidence in the Callaghan ministry passes28 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%47.5%9%7%12 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph37%51.5%8.5%14.5%5 MarMORIN/A39%52%7%13%1 MarKnutsford and Clitheroe by-elections14 FebThe Winter of Discontent ends following negotiations with the TUC12 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph33%53%11%20%8 FebNOPN/A40.7%49%7.4%8.3%1 FebMORIN/A36%55%6%19%15 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph41.5%49%6%7.5%4 JanNOPN/A49.1%42.5%5.7%6.6%

1978 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead14 DecThe Callaghan ministry survives a vote of no confidence11 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph42.5%48%6%5.5%7 DecNOPN/A47.9%44.7%4.6%3.2%13 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph48%43%6.5%5%9 NovNOPN/A46.8%44.8%6.2%2%8 NovMORIN/A46%47%5%1%26 OctPontefract and Castleford & Berwick and East Lothian by-elections23 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph47.5%42%7.5%5.5%12 OctNOPN/A48.5%44.2%4.7%4.3%11 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph42.5%49.5%6%7%11 SepMORIN/A42%48%8%6%7 SepThe Lib-Lab pact ends5 SepNOPN/A45.8%48%4.8%2.2%4 SepMORIN/A45%47%5%2%14 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph47.5%43.5%6%4%14 AugMORIN/A44%47%6%3%9 AugNOPN/A48.5%42.4%6.3%6.1%17 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph43%45%8.5%2%13 JulPenistone & Manchester Moss Side by-elections11 JulMORIN/A41%49%6%8%5 JulNOPN/A44.4%46.5%6.3%2.1%30 JunMORIN/A42%48%6%6%14 JunNOPN/A42.3%49.1%6.3%6.8%13 JunMORIN/A45%46%6%1%12 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph45.5%45.5%6%Tie31 MayHamilton by-election 24 MayMORIN/A46%45%6%1%15 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph43.5%43.5%8.5%Tie9 MayNOPN/A48%43.1%7%4.9%2–4 May1978 local elections27 AprWycombe & Epsom and Ewell by-elections20 AprLambeth Central by-election17 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph43.5%45.5%7.5%2%13 AprMORIN/A44%46%7%2%13 AprGlasgow Garscadden by-election12 AprNOPN/A44.5%46.2%6.6%1.7%20 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%48%8%7%8 MarNOPN/A45.6%44.6%7.3%1%2 MarIlford North by election15 FebNOPN/A44.6%45.3%7.1%0.7%13 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph39%48%9%9%18 JanNOP45.5%44%7.5%1.5%16 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph43.5%43.5%8.5%Tie

1977 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead14 DecNOPN/A48.8%40.8%7%8%12 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph44.5%44%8%0.5%7 DecNOPN/A44.1%44.6%7.5%0.5%30 NovNOPN/A47.5%43.2%6.3%4.3%24 NovBournemouth East by election23 NovNOPN/A44.3%46.7%6.2%2.4%16 NovNOPN/A48.5%42.5%6.2%6%14 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%45.5%8.5%3.5%9 NovNOPN/A44.1%45.5%7%1.4%26 OctNOPN/A43%46.7%6.9%3.7%26 OctMORIN/A44%45%7%1%24 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph45%45%8%Tie19 OctNOPN/A45.8%44.1%7.3%1.7%22 SepMORIN/A42%49%5%7%14 SepNOPN/A41.8%48%7.3%6.2%12 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%45.5%8.5%4.5%18 AugBirmingham Ladywood by election15 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph37.5%48.5%9%11%10 AugNOPN/A38.2%51.3%7.1%13.1%18 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph34.5%49%10.5%14.5%13 JulNOPN/A35.1%53.1%8.4%18%7 JulSaffron Walden by election22 JunNOPN/A37.1%49.1%10.8%12%13 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph37%47.5%10.5%10.5%16 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph33%53.5%8.5%20.5%11 MayNOPN/A36.9%52.9%7.2%16%3–18 May1977 local elections2 MayNOPN/A41%48.3%6.6%7.3%28 AprGrimsby & Ashfield by-elections20 AprNOPN/A38.3%49.4%9.1%11.1%18 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph33.5%49%11.5%15.5%31 MarBirmingham Stechford by-election23 MarNOPN/A35.7%50.9%9.7%15.2%23 MarThe Lib–Lab pact is formed14 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph33%49.5%13%16.5%28 FebMORIN/A38%47%12%9%24 FebCity of London and Westminster South by-election23 FebNOPN/A37.4%47.3%10.9%9.9%16 FebNOPN/A36.1%50.2%10%14.1%14 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph33.5%46%14%12.5%26 JanNOPN/A36.8%48.4%10.2%11.6%17 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph34%47%14.5%13%2 JanNOPN/A35.1%50%11.2%14.9%

1976 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead14 DecNOPN/A38.4%47.9%10.6%9.5%2 DecCambridge by-election13 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph34%49.5%11.5%15.5%28 NovNOPN/A31.3%55.2%9.4%23.9%15 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph30%55%11.5%25%7 NovNOPN/A38.2%49.3%9.3%11.1%4 NovWorkington, Walsall North and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central by-elections18 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph36.5%48%11.5%11.5%17 OctNOPN/A34.9%53.4%8.3%18.5%10 OctNOPN/A35.9%50.7%9.5%14.8%26 SepNOPN/A39.6%45.6%9.9%6%20 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%42.5%11%0.5%12 SepNOPN/A40.5%46.5%9.1%6%22 AugNOPN/A43.3%43.9%9.3%0.6%16 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%44%10%3%18 JulNOPN/A43.5%43.6%8.7%0.1%15 JulThurrock by-election12 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%41%13%Tie11 JulNOPN/A44.1%42.1%9.5%2%7 JulDavid Steel is elected leader of the Liberal Party24 JunRotherham by-election14 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%44%11%3.5%10 JunNOPN/A41.2%45.8%8.8%4.6%23 MayNOPN/A43%44.7%8.3%1.7%17 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%44%10.5%3%16 MayNOPN/A41.5%46.5%8.3%5%6 May1976 local elections28 AprNOPN/A46.1%41.7%8.4%4.4%12 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph46.5%41%9%5.5%11 AprNOPN/A44.7%43.6%9%1.1%9 AprMORIN/A46%40%10%6%5 AprJames Callaghan is elected leader of the Labour Partyand becomes Prime Minister19 MarMORIN/A47%40%9%7%15 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph41.5%44%9.5%2.5%14 MarNOPN/A41.7%46%8.8%4.3%11 MarWirral & Carshalton by-elections4 MarCoventry North West by-election16 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%45.5%10.5%5%25 JanNOPN/A42.8%42%11.3%0.8%22 JanNOPN/A40.5%43.9%11.4%3.4%19 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%40.5%14%1.5%

1975 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead16 DecNOPN/A38.3%45.4%11.7%7.1%16 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%40.5%14%0.5%30 NovNOPN/A37.4%44.5%14.9%7.1%17 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph44.5%39%12.5%5.5%16 NovNOPN/A41.2%43.6%12.7%2.4%30 OctNOPN/A41.5%43.4%11.8%1.9%20 OctGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%42.5%13.5%2%22 SepGallupThe Daily Telegraph41.5%38.5%16.5%3%7 SepNOPN/A40.8%45.7%10.3%4.9%18 AugGallupThe Daily Telegraph42%40.5%14%1.5%17 AugNOPN/A40.3%44.4%11.6%4.1%14 JulGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%43%12.5%2.5%29 JunNOPN/A37.2%48.8%10.4%11.6%26 JunWoolwich West by-election16 JunGallupThe Daily Telegraph40.5%44%13%3.5%5 JunThe United Kingdom votes "Yes" to staying in the European Community1 JunNOPN/A43.6%42%10.7%1.6%19 MayGallupThe Daily Telegraph39.5%45.5%11%6%11 MayNOPN/A40.2%42.9%13%2.7%1 May1975 local elections27 AprNOPN/A43.5%42.4%10.9%1.1%14 AprGallupThe Daily Telegraph45%43%10%2%6 AprNOPN/A43.3%44.8%9.1%1.5%17 MarGallupThe Daily Telegraph44%42%11%2%2 MarNOPN/A46.4%40.8%10.3%5.6%17 FebGallupThe Daily Telegraph41%45%11%4%11 FebMargaret Thatcher is elected leader of the Conservative Party9 FebNOPN/A46%38.6%11.1%7.4%2 FebNOPN/A43.8%38.1%14.6%5.7%19 JanNOPN/A47.8%32.4%15.9%15.4%13 JanGallupThe Daily Telegraph48.5%34%13%14.5%

1974 Surveyend datePollsterClientLabConLibLead16 DecGallupThe Daily Telegraph47%33%16.5%14%1 DecNOPN/A47.7%38.4%11.1%9.3%18 NovGallupThe Daily Telegraph46.5%35%14.5%11.5%27 OctNOPN/A43.7%36.6%15.1%7.1%10 OctOct 1974 general election39.2%35.8%18.3%3.4%

Polling in the nations and regions Scotland Date(s)conducted Pollster Client SamplesizeLabSNPConLibSLP Lead 1979 election–41.5% 17.3% 31.4% 9.0% 0.5% 10.1%Scottish Daily Express44% 18% 30% 6% 14%Opinion Research CentreThe Scotsman42% 15% 34% 8% 8%Opinion Research CentreThe Scotsman 42% 16% 33% 9% 9%System ThreeGlasgow Herald1,07949% 17% 27% 6% 1% 22%System ThreeGlasgow Herald1,00345% 19% 29% 6% 2% 16%Dissolution of the 47th Parliament and campaigning officially begins1979 Scottish devolution referendumSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald1,08040% 18% 37% 4% 1% 3%MORIScottish Daily Express 1,03744% 21% 32% 2% 12%MORILWT Weekend World 1,01545% 23% 30% 2% 15%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,00340% 23% 31% 4% 1% 9%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 92645% 20% 31% 2% 2% 14%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 48% 21% 25% 4% 2% 23%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 51% 21% 23% 3% 2% 28%1978 Berwick and East Lothian by-electionSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald97248% 19% 27% 4% 1% 21%System ThreeGlasgow Herald1,00052% 18% 24% 3% 3% 28%System ThreeGlasgow Herald96248% 18% 30% 4% 0.5% 18%System ThreeGlasgow Herald90647% 22% 26% 4% 1% 21%1978 Hamilton by-election1978 Scottish regional electionsSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald1,02447% 24% 24% 3% 2% 23%1978 Glasgow Garscadden by-electionSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald1,00838% 27% 29% 4% 2% 9%MORILWT Weekend World 1,00241% 27% 30% 3% 1% 11%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,03135% 27% 30% 5% 2% 5%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 99438% 27% 28% 5% 2% 10%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 34% 29% 28% 6% 3% 5%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 35% 30% 27% 5% 3% 5%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 98436% 26% 30% 6% 2% 6%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 971 31% 28%32% 6% 2% 1%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,045 29% 30%32% 5% 4% 2%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 947 32%33% 26% 5% 3% 1%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 28%32% 31% 6% 2% 1%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,019 33%35% 26% 4% 1% 2%1977 Scottish local electionsSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,012 28%31%31% 6% 2% TiedSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald 27%36% 27% 5% 3% 9%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 978 29% 31%32% 5% 3% 1%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 28%33% 29% 6% 4% 4%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 94830% 28%30% 9% 1% TiedSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,009 30% 30%31% 4% 4% 1%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 94334% 27% 32% 4% 3% 2%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 85535% 25% 32% 4% 3% 3%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 929 24%33% 28% 6% 8% 5%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 980 30%36% 28% 5% 6%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 42% 26% 26% 5% 16%1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendumSystem ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,01640% 26% 28% 5% 12%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 1,02237% 27% 31% 5% 6%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 89040% 24% 29% 6% 11%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 88340% 29% 28% 3% 11%System ThreeGlasgow Herald 98240% 29% 24% 6% 11%October 1974 election–36.3% 30.4% 24.7% 8.3% N/A 5.9%

Notes

References