Britons rate Russia more positively than EU, poll shows

[Danno 1,228]

Britons rate Russia more positively than EU, poll shows

London (AFP) - Britons see Russia in a more positive light than the European Union, despite recent tensions with Moscow over Ukraine, according to a poll published on Saturday.

Voters in Britain are also equally divided about whether to remain in the 28-member bloc, a subject on which Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a referendum in 2017.

The results of the online poll of 20,000 people between 7 and 20 January organised by Conservative party peer Lord Michael Aschcroft were published in Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid The Sun on Sunday.

The league table of 27 "liked" countries and institutions put the European Parliament -- for which elections are being held in May -- sixth from bottom, and the EU fourth from bottom.

Only Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Korea ranked below the European parliament when those polled were asked how positive or negative they felt towards them. Israel was fifth from bottom and Russia was seventh from bottom.

Canada was top.

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Rupert Murdoch is seen holding a copy of 'The Sun on Sunday' newspaper as he leaves his Lond …

The poll taken before relations between Russia and the West were plunged into the deep freeze because of the crisis in the Ukraine and Russia's absorption of the Crimean peninsula.

The poll meanwhile found 41 percent thought Britain should remain in the EU, while exactly the same percentage thought it should leave, with the rest undecided.

Only 20 percent of voters were confident that Cameron could renegotiate a better deal for Britain with the EU.

He has pledged to do so and then hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership in late 2017, provided that he is re-elected in May 2015.

"Britain is split down the middle," Ashcroft wrote on his website.

Separately, a Survation poll for the Mail on Sunday newspaper showed that 48 percent would vote to leave the EU in a referendum, 39 would vote to stay in, and 13 percent were undecided. It polled 1,000 adults online on Thursday and Friday.

http://news.yahoo.com/britons-rate-russia-more-positively-eu-poll-shows-003103687.html;_ylt=AwrTWfx3PS5TkwEAwQHQtDMD

[Pooky 3,840]

That's because the EU includes France.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Online polls.

[Danno 1,228]

Online polls.

Hey Don't knock'em Obama climbs into the 40% approval , when those polls are taken.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Hey Don't knock'em Obama climbs into the 40% approval , when those polls are taken.

No, Danno. Obama's approval rating is in the low 40's in regular polls. Online polls would give you results anywhere from 20% to 60% or whatever. Doesn't really matter what the range since online polls are useless.

[JohnR! 5,495]

'The results of the online poll of 20,000 people between 7 and 20 January organised [sic] by Conservative party peer Lord Michael Aschcroft were published in Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid The Sun on Sunday.'

That settles it. The data is airtight!

[deleted-05292014 331]

I concur with big dog and online polls.

Bots ruined IMDB ratings. Same reason why online polls are unreliable.

[Danno 1,228]

No, Danno. Obama's approval rating is in the low 40's in regular polls.

When it comes to being loved and respected by your countrymen..... I'm Bettin Obamer is a whole lot jealous of Vladimir.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When it comes to being loved and respected by your countrymen..... I'm Bettin Obamer is a whole lot jealous of Vladimir.

I think if presented with the choice to be a ruthless dictator that can rally popular support (or scare people into the same) and being a less popular President that leads a free nation, Obama would pick the latter over the former every day of the week and twice on Sundays. In short, as always, you're betting on the wrong horse.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It's amazing how the very things Putin does, which would classify him as a dictator, are revered by folks here. Yet if Obama would change the rules and ran for a third term, it would be seen as a bad thing.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's amazing how the very things Putin does, which would classify him as a dictator, are revered by folks here. Yet if Obama would change the rules and ran for a third term, it would be seen as a bad thing.

ODS does strange things to people.

[Danno 1,228]

I think if presented with the choice to be a ruthless dictator that can rally popular support (or scare people into the same) and being a less popular President that leads a free nation, Obama would pick the latter over the former every day of the week and twice on Sundays. In short, as always, you're betting on the wrong horse.

Ahh yes but when you went for the wimpy one you gave rise to the other.

Now you see why we can't leave national security in the hands of the Left?

This is what happens every time.

A president has to have a certain amount of Toughness.. you saw the way Bill clinton took on his Bimbos from AK?

Thats the type of toughness needed.... but he must be willing to be tough for the country not just to cover his own azz.

It's the oddest thing, Obama seems to get smaller by the day and our Allies can see it which is why Merkel is emerging as the leader the world looks to.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Ahh yes but when you went for the wimpy one you gave rise to the other.

Now you see why we can't leave national security in the hands of the Left?

This is what happens every time.

A president has to have a certain amount of Toughness.. you saw the way Bill clinton took on his Bimbos from AK?

Thats the type of toughness needed.... but he must be willing to be tough for the country not just to cover his own azz.

It's the oddest thing, Obama seems to get smaller by the day and our Allies can see it which is why Merkel is emerging as the leader the world looks to.

What's odd is the same behavior the right claims Obama acts like, you seem to glorify in Putin. It's ok for Putin to change laws and rewrite the history books. It's ok for Putin to strong arm his country. It's ok for Putin to run for a third term.

Jon Stewart said it best. You look at the crazy dude and say" I'll have what they're having."

[JohnR! 5,495]

I think if presented with the choice to be a ruthless dictator that can rally popular support (or scare people into the same) and being a less popular President that leads a free nation, Obama would pick the latter over the former every day of the week and twice on Sundays. In short, as always, you're betting on the wrong horse.

It's amazing how the very things Putin does, which would classify him as a dictator, are revered by folks here. Yet if Obama would change the rules and ran for a third term, it would be seen as a bad thing.

What seems odd to me is that people go through a tough immigration process and flock to our shores to flee from the Motherland, only to get here and look back and wish they were back home.

On a positive note, it is their discontentment with the democratic process that reassures the rest of us that we are doing something right. Their despise for our processes is an indicator we are doing something right.

What's odd is the same behavior the right claims Obama acts like, you seem to glorify in Putin. It's ok for Putin to change laws and rewrite the history books. It's ok for Putin to strong arm his country. It's ok for Putin to run for a third term.

Jon Stewart said it best. You look at the crazy dude and say" I'll have what they're having."

Why, well, of course it is. Putin is the man and if you wished America were more like the USSR you would agree he can do not wrong.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

What seems odd to me is that people go through a tough immigration process and flock to our shores to flee from the Motherland, only to get here and look back and wish they were back home.

On a positive note, it is their discontentment with the democratic process that reassures the rest of us that we are doing something right. Their despise for our processes is an indicator we are doing something right.

When folks start breaking immigration laws to get into Russia in mass droves, then can they talk about how great Putin and Russia is.