ACCORDING TO THE Daily Mail, which has gone into the
public-opinion poll business, there is 'ample evidence' that the first TV election programme, which was seen by over a third of the electorate, had an effect on voters' opinions-the effect being to increase the number of people who proposed to vote for Mr. Ludovic Kennedy and reduce the number who proposed to vote for Mr. Par- kinson. I doubt very much, though, whether the results of the election can be attributed to the candidates' broadcast performances. There was little to chose between them-or, for that matter, between their policies. The only serious difference of opinion was on hanging, and Mr. Parkinson's expressed willingness to take on the job of execu- tioner, though it may have won him a few fringe votes in Rochdale, hardly suggested that he would be a great asset at Westminster. Rochdale was interested in the election, but not deeply con- cerned. There were no real issues, and people took the opportunity to vote against what they did not like.
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