Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/470920
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 MARCH 2015 16 JAMES DEBONO THE No to spring hunting cam- paign has established a solid seven- point lead over the Yes camp but the outcome of the referendum remains uncertain due to an increase in the number of undecided voters, partic- ularly among Labour voters. The last MaltaToday survey held shortly after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reiterated his stance in fa- vour of the spring hunting deroga- tion showed the Yes leading by one point. The latest survey shows the Yes camp losing 10 points over the past month. But while the No camp does not make any gains, losing a point from last month, the number of undecided voters has gone up by eight points. In an indication that Labour voters may be wavering in their strong and vital support for the hunting lobby, support for the Yes campaign among Labour voters dropped by six points, while the number of undecided vot- ers increased by nine points. On the other hand the survey also shows a smaller drop in support for the No camp among PN voters, which is also accompanied by an in- crease in undecided voters. The survey shows the No to spring hunting campaign now leading in all age groups with the exception of males aged over 55 years, and mak- ing significant gains among males aged between 35 and 54 and among respondents who did not go to uni- versity but have a post secondary level of education. The Muscat factor The drop in Yes voters, particularly among Labour voters, indicates that the Prime Minister's silence on this issue during the past weeks may have favoured the No camp. Surveys held by MaltaToday throughout the past year have shown the pro-hunting lobby gaining ground in the aftermath of pro-hunting dec- larations by Joseph Muscat. This was the case in a survey held immediately after the MEP elections in 2014 when support for a spring hunting ban was MaltaToday Survey Support for spring hunting falls by 10 points – 8-point increase in undecided voters and 2-point increase in non-voters Survey shows 7-point PN voters: how they will vote PL voters: how they will vote Jan 2015 Feb 2015 % change No 71.4 67.7 -3.7 Yes 15.1 13.2 -1.9 Won't vote 2.4 3.8 1.4 Don't know 11.1 15.3 4.2 No reply 0 0 0 University Post-Sec Sec Primary No 60.3 53.3 32 31.4 Yes 12.1 18.3 36.9 35.9 Won't vote 3.4 6.6 10 13.1 Don't know 20.8 20 19.9 17.6 No reply 3.4 1.8 1.2 2 M 18-34 F 18-34 M 35-54 F 35-54 M 55+ F 55+ No 39.1 30.3 44.7 33.3 35.4 38.4 Yes 26.1 21.2 29.8 31.2 36.3 34.3 Won't vote 13 12.1 2.1 9.2 12.4 9.9 Don't know 21.7 30.3 21.2 25.6 13.3 16.1 No reply 0 6.1 2.2 0.7 2.6 1.3 Jan 2015 Feb 2015 % change No 20.1 19 -1.1 Yes 58 51.6 -6.4 Won't Vote 8.2 7.1 -1.1 Don't Know 13.2 22.3 9.1 No Reply 0.5 0 -0.5 Voters asked how they will vote Jul 2013 Jun 2014 Sep 2014 Jan 2015 Feb 2015 No 59.9 44.1 50.2 38.6 37.1 Yes 28.1 32.3 26.9 40 30.3 Won't vote 0 6.1 15 7.7 9.3 Don't know 12.1 17.6 7.9 12.7 20.7 No reply 0 0 0 1 2.6 Jul 2013 Jun 2014 Sep 2014 Jan 2015 Feb 2015