By IRNA,
London : Fewer people of Asian origins are likely to vote in next month’s general election in Britain, reversing previous trends, according to the findings of an ICM poll commissioned by BBC Asian Network.
The poll, which interviewed 500 people over the voting age of 18 from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, reported that those certain to vote was as low as 44 per cent, compared with nearly 70 percent who voted at the last elections in 2005.
According to a recent ICM Guardian poll, it will be also less than the 55% of the general population who are expected to cast their ballots on May 6.
Figures from the University of Warwick’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations reported that in 2005, 67% of Pakistanis, 70% of Bangladeshis and 67% of Indians voted, higher than the average national vote of just over 60% nationally.
The BBC suggested the poll showed “disillusionment” among Asians over the country’s three main political parties, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats.
The three most important priorities were the economy (23%), the health service (20%) and education (16%), while 56% said that the next government would also have to get tougher on immigration.
Forty percent believe they will never see an Asian prime minister in Britain, although 21% thought there will be one in the next 20 years.
Fears, confirmed by the Guardian poll, is that the overall turnout at the elections could fall below the 59 percent modern-day record set in 2001, due to the recent scandal over the extent of expenses claimed by MPs and general disenchantment with politicians.