Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/455578
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2015 14 JAMES DEBONO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The 11-point decline among those opposing spring hunting comes in the wake of a five- point increase in undecided voters since a survey held in September. The number of undecided voters has also increased by 15 points among the university educated, a category where the 'no' camp against hunting has lost 16 points but where the 'Yes' camp has made no gains. Moreover the 13-point increase among those supporting spring hunting is corresponded by a seven- point decline among those who in- tend not voting. This suggests that while more po- tential 'no' voters are undecided, re- spondents who previously intended not voting have shifted to the 'yes' side. It also suggests that the 'yes' vote has become more compact over the past weeks, marked by the silence of the hunting lobby during the initial weeks of the campaign. Significantly the survey shows that Simon Busuttil's declaration that he will vote for retaining the spring hunting derogation, has left no im- pact on the PN vote which remains strongly against spring hunting. But among Labour voters, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's repeated declarations in favour of retaining the spring hunting derogation is re- flected in a 19-point decrease among Labour voters opposed to spring hunting. Yet despite the support of both political leaders for retaining the derogation, half the electorate still intends voting against spring hunt- ing. This is an indication that a sig- nificant part of the electorate has not followed the directions of the leader of the two main parties which repre- sent 98% of the electorate. A similar dip in support was reg- istered by the pro divorce camp at the beginning of the divorce refer- endum campaign in 2010. A survey held two months before the divorce referendum had shown support for the introduction of divorce dipping by 11 points. Labour voters shift to 'yes' camp The survey shows a 19-point de- cline among Labour voters who in- tend voting against spring hunting. It also shows a seven-point increase among Labour voters who intend voting to retain the spring hunting derogation. The survey suggests that a large number of Labour voters may be putting their personal beliefs aside to toe the party line. This is because back in July 2013 a relative majority (49%) of Labour voters had expressed themselves against spring hunting. Less than two years later only 20% MaltaToday Survey Apathy leads to shift in f Hunters at a protest activity near Howard Gardens in Rabat in 2006 13.1% 4.7% -7.3% -11.6% Yes Don't know Won't vote No Yes No Won't vote Don't know