In the run-up to the 1983 general election , various organisations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention. Results of such polls are displayed in this article. The date ranges for these opinion polls are from the 1979 general election until 6 June 1983.
Graph of opinion polls conducted Conservative Labour SDP–Liberal Alliance
Polling results
All data is from UK Polling Report.[ 1]
1983
Survey end date
Pollster
Client
Con
Lab
All
Lead
9 June
1983 general election
42.4%
27.6%
25.4%
14.8%
8 Jun
Harris
The Observer
47%
26%
25%
21%
8 Jun
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
47%
25%
26%
21%
8 Jun
Marplan
The Guardian
45.5%
26.5%
26%
19%
8 Jun
NOP
Northcliffe
46%
26%
26%
20%
8 Jun
MORI
Evening Standard
47%
25%
26%
21%
8 Jun
NOP
Daily Mail
44%
28%
26%
16%
7 Jun
Audience Selection
The Sun
46%
28%
24%
18%
7 Jun
Marplan
The Guardian
46%
23%
29%
17%
6 Jun
Audience Selection
The Sun
47%
26%
25%
21%
5 Jun
Harris
The Observer
45%
24%
28%
17%
3 Jun
Marplan
Sunday Mirror
47%
28%
23%
19%
3 Jun
NOP
The Mail on Sunday
44%
27%
27.5%
16.5%
3 Jun
Gallup
The Sunday Telegraph
47%
29%
23%
18%
2 Jun
MORI
The Sunday Times
45.5%
31.5%
22%
14%
2 Jun
MORI
Daily Express
45%
28%
25%
17%
2 Jun
Marplan
The Guardian
43%
32%
23%
11%
1 Jun
Harris
TV-Eye
47%
30%
22%
17%
1 Jun
MORI
Daily Star
46%
28%
24%
18%
31 May
Audience Selection
The Sun
44%
32%
21%
12%
31 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
44%
29%
25%
15%
30 May
Audience Selection
TV-AM
47.5%
28%
23%
19.5%
30 May
Harris
The Observer
41%
30%
24%
11%
27 May
Marplan
Sunday Mirror
47%
30%
21%
17%
27 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
49.5%
31%
19%
18.5%
26 May
MORI
Daily Express
49%
31.5%
18%
17.5%
26 May
Marplan
The Guardian
51%
29%
19%
22%
25 May
Harris
Thames
47.5%
32.5%
19%
15%
25 May
MORI
The Sunday Times
48%
33%
18%
15%
25 May
Audience Selection
The Sun
46%
30%
23%
16%
24 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
45%
32%
21%
13%
23 May
Audience Selection
TV-AM
48%
33%
18%
15%
23 May
MORI
Daily Star
45%
32%
20%
13%
23 May
NOP
Daily Mail
51%
33%
15%
18%
23 May
Harris
The Observer
52%
33%
14%
19%
20 May
Marplan
Sunday Mirror
45%
36%
18%
9%
20 May
MORI
Daily Express
47%
34%
18%
13%
19 May
MORI
The Sunday Times
46%
37%
16%
9%
18 May
Harris
Thames
47%
30%
21%
17%
18 May
NOP
Daily Mail
45%
35%
17%
10%
17 May
Audience Selection
The Sun
49%
31%
19%
18%
17 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
44%
33%
21%
11%
16 May
MORI
Daily Star
46%
33%
19%
13%
16 May
Audience Selection
TV-AM
44%
37%
17%
7%
16 May
MORI
Daily Express
46%
31%
21%
15%
13 May
The Dissolution of the 48th Parliament and campaigning officially begins
12 May
MORI
N/A
49%
34%
15%
15%
11 May
Harris
Thames
46%
32%
22%
14%
11 May
MORI
Daily Star
52%
31%
17%
21%
10 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
46%
31%
21%
15%
9 May
MORI
N/A
49%
31.5%
17.5%
17.5%
5 May
1983 local elections [ 2]
25 Apr
MORI
N/A
45%
30%
23%
15%
23 Apr
MORI
N/A
46%
33%
21%
13%
12 Apr
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
43%
34%
22%
9%
11 Apr
MORI
N/A
40.5%
35%
22.5%
5.5%
24 Mar
Darlington by-election
23 Mar
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
43%
28%
28%
15%
21 Mar
MORI
N/A
39.5%
28.5%
29%
10.5%
16 Mar
MORI
N/A
42%
28%
27%
14%
9 Mar
MORI
N/A
41%
27%
30%
11%
26 Feb
MORI
N/A
39%
26%
34%
5%
24 Feb
Bermondsey by-election
23 Feb
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
46%
32%
21%
14%
14 Feb
MORI
N/A
43.5%
32.5%
22%
11%
9 Feb
MORI
N/A
45%
32%
21%
13%
26 Jan
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
44%
36%
19%
8%
17 Jan
MORI
N/A
44%
31.5%
22.5%
12.5%
12 Jan
MORI
N/A
44%
35%
20%
9%
1982
1981
Survey end date
Pollster
Client
Con
Lab
All
Lead
14 Dec
MORI
N/A
23%
23.5%
50.5%
27%
14 Dec
NOP
N/A
27%
29%
43%
14%
3 Dec
MORI
N/A
30.5%
34.3%
33.1%
1.2%
1 Dec
NOP
N/A
27%
27%
44%
17%
1 Dec
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
28.6%
32.1%
37.1%
5%
26 Nov
Crosby by-election
16 Nov
NOP
N/A
26.5%
29%
42%
13%
6 Nov
MORI
N/A
29.2%
38.2%
30.6%
7.6%
27 Oct
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
27%
31%
40%
9%
26 Oct
NOP
N/A
29.5%
28%
40%
12%
22 Oct
Croydon North West by-election
8 Oct
MORI
N/A
32.1%
40.4%
24.7%
8.3%
28 Sep
MORI
N/A
28%
42%
28%
14%
18 Sep
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
27%
38%
33%
5%
14 Sep
NOP
N/A
32%
36.5%
29%
7.5%
11 Sep
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
33.5%
37.4%
27.7%
3.9%
20 Aug
Fermanagh & South Tyrone second by-election
17 Aug
NOP
N/A
28%
38.5%
32.5%
6%
7 Aug
MORI
N/A
31.6%
42.1%
24.3%
10.5%
31 Jul
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
30%
39%
29%
9%
16 Jul
Warrington by-election
13 Jul
NOP
N/A
30%
40.5%
26.5%
10.5%
9 Jul
MORI
N/A
31.5%
41.2%
24.2%
9.7%
30 Jun
MORI
N/A
30%
36%
31%
6%
22 Jun
MORI
N/A
31%
39%
28%
8%
16 Jun
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
37%
39%
22%
2%
15 Jun
NOP
N/A
29.5%
37.5%
30.5%
8%
5 Jun
MORI
N/A
37.7%
39.3%
20.8%
1.6%
30 May
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
35%
39%
24%
4%
11 May
MORI
N/A
32%
35.5%
29%
3.5%
11 May
NOP
N/A
38%
41%
19%
3%
7–20 May
1981 United Kingdom local elections [ 8]
7 May
MORI
N/A
30.9%
39.3%
26.6%
8.4%
27 Apr
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
30%
38%
29%
8%
13 Apr
NOP
N/A
30%
34.5%
33%
4.5%
9 Apr
Fermanagh & South Tyrone by-election
3 Apr
MORI
N/A
35.9%
42.1%
19.5%
6.2%
26 Mar
The Social Democratic Party is formed[ 9]
23 Mar
MORI
N/A
33%
41%
25%
8%
23 Mar
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
28%
38%
32%
10%
16 Mar
NOP
N/A
30%
34%
32%
4%
2 Mar
NOP
N/A
37%
41.1%
16.5%
4.1%
13 Feb
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
34.5%
50.9%
12.2%
16.4%
11 Feb
MORI
N/A
36%
35.5%
26.5%
0.5%
24 Jan
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
35%
45%
17%
10%
19 Jan
NOP
N/A
33%
46.5%
18.5%
13.5%
9 Jan
MORI
N/A
35.4%
51.2%
11.9%
15.8%
1980
Survey end date
Pollster
Client
Con
Lab
Lib
Lead
19 Dec
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
32%
56%
11%
24%
15 Dec
NOP
N/A
35%
47.5%
14.5%
12.5%
4 Dec
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
37.2%
47.7%
12.6%
10.5%
17 Nov
MORI
N/A
36.5%
47%
15%
10.5%
11 Nov
NOP
N/A
38%
47%
13%
9%
10 Nov
Michael Foot becomes leader of the Labour Party [ 10]
7 Nov
MORI
N/A
39.4%
46.5%
12.4%
7.1%
31 Oct
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
36%
50%
13%
14%
20 Oct
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
40%
43%
13.5%
3%
6 Oct
NOP
N/A
40%
43%
13.5%
3%
2 Oct
MORI
N/A
39.8%
47.6%
11%
7.8%
30 Sep
MORI
N/A
34%
50%
15%
16%
29 Sep
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
37%
46%
15%
9%
15 Sep
NOP
N/A
35.5%
45%
16.5%
9.5%
5 Sep
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
40%
46.3%
11.3%
6.3%
18 Aug
NOP
N/A
38.5%
44%
14.5%
5.5%
1 Aug
MORI
N/A
38.1%
47.3%
11.7%
9.2%
31 Jul
MORI
N/A
37%
48%
13%
11%
27 Jul
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
37%
47%
13%
10%
14 Jul
NOP
N/A
40%
43.5%
14%
3.5%
3 Jul
MORI
N/A
41%
46.9%
10.4%
5.9%
26 Jun
Glasgow Central by-election
23 Jun
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
41%
43%
13%
2%
16 Jun
NOP
N/A
40.5%
45%
11.5%
4.5%
6 Jun
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
43%
43.3%
11.7%
0.3%
19 May
NOP
N/A
39%
43.5%
15.5%
4.5%
1 May
MORI
N/A
41.4%
46.5%
10.7%
5.1%
1 May
1980 United Kingdom local elections [ 11]
28 Apr
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
39%
44%
14%
5%
14 Apr
NOP
N/A
36.5%
45%
15%
8.5%
11 Apr
MORI
N/A
35.5%
49.6%
10.9%
14.1%
28 Mar
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
42%
46%
9%
4%
17 Mar
NOP
N/A
37%
49.5%
11.5%
12.5%
13 Mar
Southend East by-election
5 Mar
MORI
N/A
35.7%
51.9%
11.2%
16.2%
29 Feb
MORI
N/A
38%
46%
13%
8%
25 Feb
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
38%
46%
14%
8%
11 Feb
NOP
N/A
37.5%
42%
18%
4.5%
8 Feb
MORI
N/A
37.2%
50.3%
10.7%
13.1%
19 Jan
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
39%
47%
12%
8%
14 Jan
NOP
N/A
36%
45%
16%
9%
4 Jan
MORI
N/A
40.1%
48.5%
9.5%
8.4%
1979
Survey end date
Pollster
Client
Con
Lab
Lib
Lead
31 Dec
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
40%
43%
14%
3%
13 Dec
South West Hertfordshire by-election
10 Dec
NOP
N/A
38%
42%
18%
4%
6 Dec
MORI
N/A
42.1%
46.3%
10.1%
4.2%
2 Dec
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
40%
45%
13%
5%
12 Nov
NOP
N/A
39%
43.5%
15.5%
4.5%
9 Nov
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
40.9%
47.2%
10%
6.3%
15 Oct
NOP
N/A
40.5%
45%
12.5%
4.5%
6 Oct
MORI
N/A
44.9%
46%
7.4%
1.1%
30 Sep
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
41%
46%
11%
5%
27 Sep
Manchester Central by-election
17 Sep
NOP
N/A
40.5%
45%
12%
4.5%
2 Sep
MORI
N/A
42.8%
47.3%
8.6%
4.5%
31 Aug
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
42%
43%
12%
1%
13 Aug
NOP
N/A
41.5%
44%
12.5%
2.5%
5 Aug
MORI
N/A
43.1%
45.4%
9.5%
2.3%
31 Jul
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
44%
45%
9%
1%
16 Jul
NOP
N/A
41%
46%
11.5%
5%
7 Jul
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
44.2%
45.5%
8.2%
1.3%
18 Jun
Gallup
The Daily Telegraph
42%
43.5%
12%
1.5%
7 Jun
1979 European Parliament election [ 12]
3 May
1979 United Kingdom local elections [ 13]
3 May
1979 general election
43.9%
36.9%
13.8%
7%
References
^ "UK Polling Report" . ukpollingreport.co.uk . Retrieved 16 August 2018 .
^ Carvel, John (6 May 1983). "Thatcher gets June signals from voters". The Guardian .
^ Beresford, David (21 October 1982). "Second attack on Unionist leader as Ulster goes to polls". The Guardian .
^ Brown, Colin (3 July 1982). "Jenkins victory boosts Alliance". The Guardian .
^ Fairhall, David; Brown, Paul; Morgan, Jeremy (15 June 1982). "Troops surrender at Port Stanley". The Guardian .
^ Carvel, John (7 May 1982). "Tories fight off challenge by Labour as Alliance falters". The Guardian .
^ Fairhall, David; Morgan, Jeremy (3 April 1982). "Argentine action in Falklands stuns Cabinet". The Guardian .
^ Carvel, John (8 May 1981). "Labour swings to victory, but no landslide". The Guardian .
^ Aitken, Ian (26 March 2021). "SDP launches itself onto the British political stage – archive, 1981" . The Guardian . Retrieved 15 July 2021 .
^ Aitken, Ian (11 November 1980). "Labour picks Foot to heal party splits". The Guardian .
^ Langdon, Julia (2 May 1980). "Tories deserted by voters in Labour advance". The Guardian .
^ Palmer, John (7 June 1979). "Banging the nationalist drum inside Europe". The Guardian .
^ Hencke, David (5 May 1979). "Consolation prize for Labour". The Guardian .
Elections
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