Independent Political Poll

ComRes interviewed 1,004 GB adults by telephone between February 28^th and March 2^nd 2014. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all GB adults aged 18+. Data were also weighted by past vote recall. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

Date Published: 04 Mar 2014

Categories: Economy | Politics | Public and communities | UK

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COMRES / INDEPENDENT POLL: LABOUR’S LEAD UP, BUT MIXED REACTION TO UNION REFORMS

 

Ed Miliband is yet to convince the public about the merits of his reforms to Labour's relationship with the trade unions, according to a ComRes poll for The Independent.

It found that 41 per cent of people disagree with the statement that the changes “will make the Labour Party more democratic,” while only 34 per cent agree with it.

The Miliband reforms appear to have made limited impact beyond Labour’s own supporters. Only a quarter of people who say they will vote Tory (27 per cent) agree that the changes will make Labour more democratic, while 57 per cent disagree.

People who voted Liberal Democrat at the last general election are evenly split: 42 per cent of them believe the reforms will make Labour more democratic but 41 per cent disagree. 

According to ComRes, some 46 per cent of the public agree that the unions “have too much influence over the Labour Party,” while 40 per cent disagree with this proposition. One in three people who supports Labour (32 per cent) agrees that the unions enjoy too much power but 59 per cent of them disagree.

However, some 44 per cent of people agree with the statement that "the relationship between the Conservatives and big business is more of a problem than Labour's relationship with the trade unions," while 37 per cent disagree. One in five (20 per cent) of Tory supporters agrees with the statement.

The poll gives Labour an eight-point lead, up from just one point in the last ComRes poll for The Independent in January. Labour is now on 38 per cent (up five points), the Tories are on 30 per cent (down two points), UKIP is on 11 per cent (down three points), the Lib Dems on 10 per cent (up one point) and others on 11 per cent (down one point). If these figures were repeated at a General Election on a uniform swing, Labour would win an overall majority of 98 seats.

 

Methodology Note: ComRes interviewed 1,004 GB adults by telephone between February 28^th and March 2^nd 2014. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all GB adults aged 18+. Data were also weighted by past vote recall. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.