UK: Study shows Gaza a major reason for collapse in support for Labour
A new study has revealed that over half of former Labour voters who intend to vote for a centre or left-wing party in the next general election cited Israel's genocide in Gaza as a factor in their decision.
The findings indicate the enormous significance the genocide and the UK's cooperation with Israel throughout it continue to have for British politics.
Contrary to some popular misconceptions, the study further explodes the view that outrage over the genocide is a niche, sectarian or purely Muslim concern.
The poll, carried out by Opinium, found that 40.7 percent of people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election switched support to the left-wing Green Party in last month's local elections.
Another 29.6 percent went to the centrist Liberal Democrats, while 11.1 percent supported Reform UK and 9.3 percent the Conservatives.
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Of former voters who transferred their support to centre and left-wing parties, 53 percent said the government's support for Israel influenced them to switch their vote.
The study said 21 percent said it influenced them a great deal and 31 percent said it influenced them somewhat.
Younger voters and those who had moved their support to the Green Party were found to be most concerned about the Labour government's record on Gaza.
Of people aged 18-34, 66 percent said Gaza was a factor, alongside 54 percent of 35-49s, 49 percent of 50-64s and 43 percent of people aged 65 and over.
Two thirds of those who now support the Greens said Gaza was a reason why they switched their vote.
By contrast, 32 percent of Liberal Democrat supporters said it was a factor and 44 percent of people now supporting the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru or independents.
The poll was commissioned by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of the Earth.
Led by Zack Polanski, the Greens made huge gains in the local elections last month.
Pollster Sir John Curtice noted afterwards that the Greens had inflicted far more damage on the Labour vote than Reform.
Candidates who signed the “Pledge for Palestine”, created by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), won 27 percent of the seats they contested, while Reform candidates won 30 percent.
Labour candidates trailed behind on 22 percent, with the Lib Dems just one point behind on 21.
The PSC pledge committed candidates to use their position to support Palestinian rights if they are elected.
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