YouGov survey finds 20 per cent drop in Labour support among those polled in 2016
Voters who earlier this year said they would back Labour but have changed their minds say the party is ‘a shambles’, with Jeremy Corbyn the single biggest reason for their switch.
YouGov contacted 1,000 people who said they would vote Labour when polled earlier in 2016, and found 200 had decided not to vote Labour. These 200 were invited to write a sentence or two about why.
Of these, 29 per cent said ‘I don’t like Jeremy Corbyn as leader’ – the largest single reason by a margin of 11 per cent.
Next down on the list was that ‘Labour are a shambles’ (18 per cent), followed by ‘No confidence in Labour at the moment’ (12 per cent) and ‘Labour are too divided’ (ten per cent).
Seven per cent blamed Labour’s handling of Brexit and/or the EU referendum, while ten per cent said they did not know how to vote.
YouGov created a ‘world cloud’ using respondents’ answers based on frequency of words used:
Still, the results give ammunition to both sides of the party.
Supporters of Corbyn can blame MPs’ resignations, vote of no-confidence and leadership challenge for the impression of Labour as a ‘shambles’ and ‘divided’.
Corbyn’s critics will say that 29 per cent blaming his leadership for their changed minds adds to evidence Corbyn is more popular among party members than with the general public.
Ballot papers went out yesterday for the Labour Party leadership election.
Jeremy Corbyn’s support inside the party is likely to see him defeat challenger Owen Smith and be re-elected as leader in time for party conference in September.
Smith was endorsed this week by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.
Trade union endorsements are split between the two candidates, but among the biggest unions, Corbyn is backed by Unite and Unison, while Smith is backed by GMB and USDAW.
See: Jeremy Corbyn is behind Theresa May among Labour supporters
See: Diane Abbott: Jeremy Corbyn’s vision can win a general election
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14 Responses to “Voters abandon ‘shambles’ Labour – with Jeremy Corbyn their top reason”
CR
There will be even further problems if Owen Smith’s policy of staying in the EU and ignoring the people’s decision is given any force at all. We will lose out big-time to UKIP !!!!
Mark
I have stopped supporting Labour but it is nothing to do with Corbyn. I’m sick of the red Tories, and I see plenty of them, using social media to abuse anyone who doesn’t agree with them. Most are too tight up attacking each other than they are of fighting the Tories.
Alasdair Macdonald
Mr Khan,
Invoking the principle of charity I shall take your question as it reads. I thought my point was clear, but, since you have not understood it I apologise. Public opinion surveys can be designed in such ways as the phrasing of questions, false dichotomies, omitting aspects of the issue, etc.to produce results, which, if used selectively and out of context, can be presented as seemingly objective evidence in support of a particular position. I felt this was the case here. In addition, a survey of article on the site which relate mainly to Mr Corbyn shows that most are hostile to him.
I think that Mr Corbyn and the Labour Party face serious issues of credibility with much of the electorate. However, while the poll quoted might indicate that, I felt that it lacked nuance.
I hope that helps.
Sam
People should always remember Harold Wilson’s prescient words about politics & 7 days when reading polls.
The ‘shambles’ has been created by the Blairites who seek to blame Corbyn for their underhand tactics.
As for Sadiq Khan endorsing Owen Smith who hasn’t a hope in hell of winning anything and who the Blaitites seemingly delude themselves that Britain’s 90% right-wing media will somehow give a smooth ride- this seems like a clever move by Khan to endorse a non-winnable candidate so that he can, like a hero on a white charger step in as Labour leader and take the top role. In that, he is as deluded as Boris Johnson was.
gabriel pepper
LLF is biased against JC. JC would make a great and very believable PM. JC can take down DC and TM only by upsetting the people. TM will be upsetting the people, by destroying the NHS, by turfing onto the streets anyone under the age of 21, by fracking everywhere causing very serious problems of seismology and massive environmental damage, by presiding over rapidly increasing dissent as the crappy Housing Bill becomes a reality, by presiding over a massive recession, and many more things. Once the reality hits that the UK really is deep up shit creek without a paddle, the people will be scratching their heads, and will follow JC. As the JC revolution grows, how long will maniac TM hang on? How much filth will we have to see before the British people stand up? How much crap will the British Working Class have to tolerate? So I dont believe these polls tell us very much.