Less than three per cent of respondents to a survey by The Sunday Times will determine their vote based on the lowering of utility bills, despite this being one of the Labour Party’s major promises.

Respondents were asked what they considered to be the most pressing issue that would dictate the way they voted. The results were so varied that no single issue was cited by as much as 10 per cent of the respondents.

The closest to achieve this rating was “work/jobs” (9.1 per cent), followed by “the country needs a change in government” (6.8 per cent) and “stability” (six per cent). Interestingly, the economy was only mentioned by 4.2 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, “moral values” was cited by just 0.4 per cent, despite such issues being crucial to the political scenario just last year when the country was divided on whether or not to introduce divorce.

Respondents were also asked to mention the government’s biggest failures and successes. The question on government failures elicited the least “don’t know” responses.

More than a fifth (22.6 per cent) referred to the ministerial pay rise saga as the biggest blunder, followed by public transport reform (9.5 per cent), the increase in utility bills (6.1 per cent) and the high cost of living (4.5 per cent).

Only 1.2 per cent felt the divorce referendum was the biggest mistake committed by the government. Almost double that figure felt accepting renegade MP Franco Debono into the PN was the government’s biggest failure. Respondents were more confused when it came to listing the government’s biggest achievements.

Ten per cent cited “the high level of education” while 6.3 per cent mentioned something which happened almost eight years ago: joining the European Union.

The next items on the list were the handling of Malta during the world crisis (6.1 per cent), jobs/work stability (5.3 per cent) and the country’s financial stability (4.6 per cent).

The handling of the Libya crisis was labelled the biggest success by 3.9 per cent of respondents.

Only 3.3 per cent mentioned the “good economy” and the only major capital project listed in the top 10 was Mater Dei Hospital (3.6 per cent).

The survey, with a sample of 500 respondents, was conducted by Misco International last week, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 per cent.

Top 10 pressing issues