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You don't have to be smart to vote Lib Dem, but it helps says new research...

November 12, 2008 8:00 AM

Academic research published in the journal Intelligence compares the way people voted in the 2001 election with their IQ at the age of 10 (using data from the 1970 British cohort study), and found that, on average, Lib Dem and Green voters have a higher IQ than supporters of other Parties.

On a party-by-party basis, the average (childhood) IQ scores for 2001 voters were:

  • Green - 108.3
  • Liberal Democrat - 108.2
  • Conservative - 103.7
  • Labour - 103
  • Plaid Cymru - 102.5
  • Scottish National - 102.2
  • UK Independence - 101.1
  • British National - 98.4

Did not vote/None of the above - 99.7.

Neil Matthews, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Folkestone and Hythe, commented:

"I had always thought Lib Dem voters to be among Britain's best thinkers - it's interesting to see that backed up!"

"Lib Dems voters take great care, looking at every angle of our policies - something I've found on many a doorstep! Having their support is the result of a voter scrutinising of our answers."

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