On Europe, Nick Clegg is less in tune with his own voters than the Tories, a new YouGov poll reveals.
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This research is based on a polling study which will be presented tomorrow at the YouGov Cambridge Symposiumon the future of Europe
One of the few areas where Nick Clegg can claim to have shown genuine and passionate distance from David Cameron is in his attitude towards Europe.
Following the prime minister’s non-veto on the eurozone crisis measures before Christmas, it was obvious from interviews that the Lib Dem leader was not happy with how his coalition partner had carried out negotiations.
However, on this ‘yellow line’ his own voters appear to be closer to the Tories than his party, according to new research from YouGov Cambridge:
Survey results for individual political parties suggest that Nick Clegg is out of step with a majority of his own party, as well as both Labour and Conservative voters, on attitudes to European integration and sharing sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Labour and Lib Dem voters largely share a consensus on regulation and economic recovery.
Liberal Democrat voters sit in conflict with their party leadership on the question of Europe – a significant majority of Lib Dems prefer national control of many policy areas, including:
• Immigration, say 70% of Lib Dems;
• Trade links with other countries, say 51% of Lib Dems;
• Weights and measures, say 58% of Lib Dems;
• Rights for workers, say 50% of Lib Dems;
• Tax rates and national budgets, say 91% of Lib Dems;
• Crime and justice, say 81% of Lib Dems;
• Agriculture, say 77% of Lib Dems;
• Deciding laws on trade unions and strikes, say 74% of Lib Dems.
The research does not go on to say how highly Lib Dem voters rate European issues as an important political topic. That is where Eurosceptics – like railway nationalisation enthusiasts on the left – take false comfort from polls showing public majorities in their favour.
• UKIP’s supporters are closer to the BNP than Farage would have us believe 12 Mar 2012
• Brits’ voices not heard by EU, but they want closer integration on international issues 22 Feb 2012
• Alexander: All Cameron’s “phantom veto” did was undermine British influence 31 Jan 2012
• Will Clegg fight against a Fresh Start on the EU? 5 Jan 2012
• Public support for Cameron’s EU walkout already unravelling 13 Dec 2011
“Banging on” about a topic that most of the population agrees with you on but do not think is very important can make you look weird.
But that on one of the few areas that defines Clegg as a non-Tory he is less in tune with his own voters than the Tories, cannot be a good sign for the deputy prime minister.
7 Responses to “On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg”
Political Planet
On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg: On Europe, Nick Clegg is less in tune with h… http://t.co/2kmndGKA
PaulLeedsConf
On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg, reports @ShamikDas: http://t.co/2hGOZdOz
Shamik Das
On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg, reports @ShamikDas: http://t.co/2hGOZdOz
leftlinks
Left Foot Forward – On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg http://t.co/6iEFFTli
Martin Steel
On Europe, Lib Dem voters are closer to the Tories than Nick Clegg, reports @ShamikDas: http://t.co/2hGOZdOz