Voters want concrete plans, not big visions
A revealing new poll published today by the TUC shows how voters feel about Labour and the Conservatives in the wake of the election.
The poll, conducted straight after the election by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, provides a valuable insight into voting habits, and will be a useful resource for Labour as they choose their new leader.
For example, 13 per cent of voters said that they considered voting Labour before eventually choosing another party. 35 per cent switched to the Conservatives, 23 to Liberal Democrats, 17 to UKIP and 14 to the Greens.
Among this group, the biggest doubts influencing their ultimate lack of faith were spending and the threat of the SNP. Just 8 per cent of this group said their doubts included Labour being ‘hostile to aspiration’.
Just 27 per cent of voters said they thought Labour had a good record in government, and they scored 31 for competence compared to the Tories’ 57.
In contrast, although only 30 per cent said they thought the Conservatives were on the side of ordinary people, compared to 61 per cent for Labour, 54 per cent of people said they thought the Conservatives had a good track record in government.
Voters were concerned that Labour could not deliver on a number of issues including:
- Economic trust: Labour is 39 points behind on economic trust despite the fact that the poll suggests Labour’s potential growth arguments were more persuasive to voters
- ‘Concrete plans’: By 77 to 15 voters are looking for ‘concrete plans for sensible change’ rather than ‘a big vision for radical change’ from parties.
- Big business and wealth: By 42 to 22 voters thought Labour was too soft on big business, rather than too tough. This figure rose to 50 to 15 among those voters who considered Labour.
- Immigration and identity: By 62 to 20 voters want Labour to be tougher on immigration rather than more positive.
Labour has retained its traditional strongpoint, the NHS, with a 17-point lead over the Conservatives on healthcare.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said today:
“What comes through is that this poll offers no simple set of solutions for a new Labour leader – the attitudes revealed are a fascinating mix that shows voters are on the left on some issues and on the right on others.
“The challenges Labour now faces are very different from those in the past. Voters back a lot of the trade union agenda on living standards and an economic policy based on investment and growth, rather than the deep cuts we now face. But on welfare and immigration their views are very challenging.”
The poll shows that, moving forward, Labour needs to think about a leader who projects an image of competence and toughness. Despite the unpopularity of Conservative cuts, they have been carried out with a confidence which seems to appeal to voters.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
13 Responses to “Poll shows that trust and competence are key for next Labour leader”
AlanGiles
Your so holier than thou Matt. I doubt that Andy Burnham is a pal of Duncan-Smith, or had tete-a-tetes with Mrs Thatcher. Field is, and did. Perhap sthe truth is “crass” if you happen not to agree with it?
Matthew Blott
What does that have to do with a person’s integrity?
AlanGiles
Well a (nominally) “Labour” MP supporting the coalition led by the Conservatives taking a post in that coalition doesn’t exactly strike me as being the epitome of “integrity”.
Your problem Matt, like Field’s, is that you are sympathetic to such a right wing position you might do better to join the Orange Book section of the Lib-Dems or the Conservatives and have done with it.
What will you do if Liz Kendall doesn’t become leader? – stay for one more heave or just be discontent?.
I knew back in January 2012 that Miliband couldn’t win,because of a crass interview he gave on The World At One, talking about “industry” which suggested he had skim read “The LadyBird Book Of Making Stuff”. I said what was on my mind and got called a “Tory troll” – those same people were gunning for Ed Miliband 24 hours after the election!.
Kendal is the comfort zone for disaffected Blairites: just like those Tories who were calling for the return of Mrs Thatcher in 2001, they forget that the last Blairite win was ten years ago, the world has moved on and it isn’t feasible to win in 2020 with the speil of 1997.
Why
These left right arguments are really boring, they turn off the electorate as well. With Scotland a new uphill battle tell me what will win in Sussex, Hampshire and Lothian as well as the North of England. Labour was always a cooperative enterprise between working and middle class people, what positives will bring them together for the common good.
Everyone now knows that politics is corrupt down to its expenses, so suggest a way/policy to make it more transparent and accountable but still leave MPs able to do the job.
We need to get away from this draw a hitler moustache on Cameron thing, Tories are people just like us, they are not inherently evil, to dehumanise anyone leads to extremes that dehumanise you in return, or else you underestimate as we did in this election.
My belief is we need more funding and need to seek out new sources, crowd funding might be one way. I have said elsewhere how impressed I was with the influence exerted by the Tory paid social media campaign, whilst our tweet storms went in the main to each other and reached no one new. We need to reduce the amount of talking to ourselves. In fact take a risk befriend a Tory and discover what our opponents are thinking!
Tony
The fact that Labour looked like being wiped out in Scotland made it easier for me to vote Labour. This is because a Labour government that was dependent on the SNP would, for me, have been a better government. It would have decreased the danger of Trident being replaced for a start.
I have no idea how many others felt the same. I would imagine some did. When I saw Nicola Sturgeon attacking Trident replacement, I thought it was great. A pity that Ed Miliband did not say it.