Policy Exchange - Newspapers can influence readers but only indirectly

Policy Exchange director Nicholas Boles today acknowledged that newspapers could influence readers' opinions, but he questioned the extent to which newspaper editorials could determine how they voted. His comments followed Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger's suggestion that the paper might support the Liberal Democrats at the next General Election instead of the Labour Party.

Mr Boles told politics.co.uk: "Newspapers can influence their readers but only indirectly I think. If a particular newspaper switches allegiance it creates a sense of momentum, which percolates through to voters via the general debate. However, I doubt very much that newspaper readers pay much direct attention to how editorials tell them to vote."