Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)AN OLIVE Press investigation has found that the British love affair with Spain is still going strong.
Our research contradicts a heavily-documented poll of 250 expatriates which concluded that 74 per cent of Britons in Spain were considering returning to the UK.
“It is difficult to get a clear conclusion from a survey of just 250 people, when an estimated one million Britons live in Spain. I could ask 250 people and get a different result every time.”
Indeed, in a survey for the Olive Press some 80 per cent of expatriates said they were still happy living in Spain.
Only 21 per cent said they wanted to go home.
Meanwhile, the British Consulate, as well as official tourist bodies confirmed our findings.
British Consul Steve Jones explained: “It is difficult to get a clear conclusion from a survey of just 250 people, when an estimated one million Britons live in Spain. I could ask 250 people and get a different result every time.”
See End of the love affair? Not likely, for the full in-depth Olive Press investigation.
Statistics, statistics. Anyway, you don’t need statistics to see what is going on. Just look at some real-life facts. Pet taxis and removal firms cannot meet supply. Local schools have lost most of their English children. We don’t need Steve Jones lol.
Having been a professional researcher, I find both the original article and the subsequent comments , particularly the above by Mr Jones very funny. (..and bit worrying , that a senior Officer of the Crown should be so mathematically challenged…in an area on which he should be expert..ascessing the dependibility of research data?)
But then again perhaps he is.. and his comments have been “spun” to make headlines..Lol
For the statistically uninitiated.. and that seems to encompass the vast majority of the public, and the media..notwithstanding Mr Jones..the absolute random sample size required to have confidence in a 75% result from a population of 1.5 million, with a 10% confidence level ..is 96. LoL
I think the confusion and mistrust here is completely misplaced in criticism of the sample size. Indeed, the result may be rubblish, but if so, its because of flaws in the survey design, sampling technique and methodology employed..all perhaps more technical than makes for tidy sound bytes?
If there is irresponsibility to be apportioned.. I believe it should be apportioned to the Telegraph who provided no evidence that they had done any due dilligence on verifying these technical issues,and indeed your good selves, in not contacting MoneyCorps Mr David Kerns to quiz him for those details before republishing.
But Heck..who cares..My own.. completely subjective impression is that Fred has it nailed..LoL
Sometimes you dont need a depth sounder on a boat to tell you are on the rocks. You can see them by looking over the side..LoL
Steve Jones, the consultates answer to a celebrity presence. We see him at parties in Marbella, we see him groomed and posing for the cameras in his lovely suit at various official functions. He is surely the Tom Ford of the consulate lol. But not much else…
Btw Ed, LoL requires two additional keypresses…