The majority of national newspapers were pleased with the Conservative win at last week's general election.
Press Gazette analysis last week showed that if newspaper circulations were votes, the Tories would have won a landslide majority. Some 57.5 per cent of the daily newspaper market backed the Tories – versus 11.7 per cent Labour – while 66 per cent of the Sunday market endorsed David Cameron's party.
But how much did newspapers influence voters?
Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford argued yesterday, after analysing Yougov data, that Labour cannot blame the right-wing press for its downfall.
And a vox pop of ten people in central London yesterday appeared to support this hypothesis, with each claiming their newspaper did not influence their vote.
Please note: Press Gazette is not claiming that these ten people are representative of the general population (three are Guardian readers and none claimed to buy The Sun).
Kathryn Norris (pictured left), 43, who works in marketing and comes from South Wales, said: “I do read The Guardian but it doesn’t necessarily influence my vote.”
Sara Hale, 25, a student from London, said: “I’m a Guardian reader and a Labour voter. But I wouldn’t say my choice of paper was the deciding factor in my vote.
"But The Guardian has been far more sympathetic in its portrayal of Ed Miliband than most other papers and maybe improved my perspective of him. I think the personal attacks on him in other papers probably played a major part in undermining his credibility.”
Christian Woodcock, 55, a jeweller from London, said: “I read The Times and the Telegraph but I normally view news on websites. I don’t think they affected my vote though.”
Clare Archer (p
ictured right), 48, a furniture designer from London, said: “I read the Evening Standard, Metro and, on Saturdays, the Telegraph.
"I already had my own views though."
Paul Burton, 60, who works in publishing and comes from London, said: “I wasn’t influenced by my paper. I’ve held my views for a long time.
"I read The Times but that didn’t change my mind about who to vote for.”
Adam Jenkins, 28, a graphic designer from London, said: “Not really. I always knew who I wanted to vote for.
"But I definitely could see the newspaper bias, especially in The Sun.”
Alex Key (pictured left), 30, a web developer from Bedford, said: “I don’t read the papers much, I view various news outlets. But they didn’t affect my vote.”
Leanne Blake, 24, a waitress from London, said: “I don’t read newspapers. But I watch Russell Brand on The Trews.
"I voted Labour but I was going to anyway before he said it.”
Hanna Sharif (pictured right), 21, a student from London, said: “The papers didn’t really affect my vote.
"Listening to the TV debates informed my opinion much more.”
Ben Clark, 35, who works in post-production and comes from Bristol, said: “I read The Guardian.
"They endorsed Labour but I voted Green. So they didn’t directly influence my vote.”
Photo (Reuters) shows Marylebone Cricket Club members reading newspapers as they wait to get into Lord's cricket ground in London.
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