Yes...?

Nadia Saint says her 'irony-o-meter is about to blow' over this Mail website poll:

What will Star readers say?

On the day the Daily Star published its misleading story about halal meals for schoolchildren, they also ran this phone poll:


If anyone has the result of this poll, please do post it in the comments.

Fun with numbers

One article from the Mail and one from the Sun today which both show a less than comprehensive grasp of statistics. But it's not solely down to stupidity - the headlines they have used fit their agenda, even if the numbers don't.

So from the Mail:

'Winning banned in two-thirds of schools'. And the article does reveal a new poll that:

surveyed almost 300 primary and secondary schools and found that 69 per cent reward all participants in sports days.

It doesn't explain what these rewards are, but that doesn't necessarily mean 'winning' is 'banned'.

Indeed, it then goes on to totally contradict the headline:

Nine per cent of all schools refuse to single out any winners at all.

Ah. So it's only 9% then. Not two-thirds.

Over in the Sun, a report on a poll about a referendum on changing the voting system. YouGov asked:

In view of spending cuts, is it appropriate to spend £80million on an AV referendum now?

It's not clear where the £80million figure comes from - the article states it could cost 'up to' that amount. And while 46% said inappropriate, 35% said appropriate and 19% said don't know.

But they also asked:

Regardless of how you would vote, do you support the principle of holding a referendum?

69% said yes and only 12% were opposed.

The Sun's headline for this support for a referendum?


The Sun oppose the referendum, as the Mail wants everyone to think political correctness has gone mad at school sports days, hence the headlines. Presumably they just hope people won't notice what's actually been said.

(Hat-tip Adam Bienkov)

Do you think this is an appropriate question?

From the Mail: