Sunday Mirror Poll of Women

Poll of 1,000 women for the Sunday Mirror about the General Election

Labour leads the Conservatives among female voters. 38% of women voters would vote for the Labour Party, compared to 33% who would vote for the Conservatives. UKIP is in third with 11%, with the Liberal Democrats on 8%.

Con      33%

Lab       38%

LD        8%
UKIP     11%
Green   4%

Other   6%

A quarter of women who voted for the Liberal Democrats in 2010 now say they will vote Labour (25%). However, nearly as many have moved the Conservatives (22%).

There are some significant differences between women of different ages, with those aged 18-54 more likely to say they will vote for Labour, while women aged 55 and over more likely to say they will vote for the Conservatives.

Katharine Peacock, Managing Director of ComRes, said: “Despite leading in the polls overall, the Conservatives trail among female voters. This suggests that the Conservatives’ so-called “women problem” is still a very real issue for the party. Although there are a number of different divisions within the electorate, not least between voters of different ages and in different part of the country, in some ways this election is gearing up to be a “Battle of the Sexes”. If more women turn out to vote on polling day, it’s likely to be a better night for Labour, if more men turn out, it’s likely to be a better night for the Conservatives and UKIP.”

Leaders

Despite Ed Miliband being more trusted on the NHS and to have family friendly policies, David Cameron is more trusted to run the country.

Two thirds (63%) of British women declined to choose which of the male leaders they would most like to go on a date with. However, Nick Clegg leads his rivals on 16%.

David Cameron has a clear lead over Ed Miliband as the leader most trusted to run the country (34% to 27%) and represent Britain abroad (32% to 21%).

The Labour leader is more trusted than his Conservative counterpart to act in the best interest of women (23% to 15%), have family friendly policies (32% to 21%) and manage the NHS (30%) to 21%).

The two men are level pegging as the most trusted to help manage family finances (23% Cameron, 25% Miliband) and improve education stands (24% Cameron and 26% Miliband).

Q: Which of the following party leaders would you most…

	David Cameron	Ed Miliband	Nick Clegg	Nigel Farage	Don’t know
Like to go on a date with	8%	7%	16%	6%	63%
Like to represent Britain abroad	32%	21%	7%	11%	29%
Trust to run the country	34%	27%	4%	7%	28%
Trust to help you manage your family finances	23%	25%	6%	6%	41%
Trust to manage the NHS	21%	30%	7%	7%	35%
Trust to improve education standards	24%	26%	11%	7%	32%
Trust to act in the best interests of women	15%	23%	12%	5%	45%
Trust to have the most family friendly policies	21%	32%	12%	5%	31%
Trust to protect tax credits for working families	18%	35%	8%	5%	35%

Base: GB women (1,033)

Women and politics

Two thirds (66%) of British women believe there are not enough women in politics, while 17% disagree.

• Young women are more likely than older women to think there are not enough women in politics: 74% of 18-24 year olds and 62% of those aged 65+.

Half (49%) of women think that men and women have very different political priorities, however again there is a clear difference within age groups. Just one in four (24%) 18-24 year olds agree that men and women have very different political priorities compared to a majority (58%) of those aged 65+.

Around half (46%) think that male politicians can never fully represent the best interests of women while four in ten (39%) say politics is off putting for most women.

1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Statement	Agree	Disagree	Don’t know
Women have very different political priorities to men	49%	33%	18%
Male politicians can never fully represent the best interests of women	46%	32%	22%
There are not enough women in politics	66%	17%	17%
The political parties are ignoring female voters	29%	45%	26%
Politics today is off putting for most women	39%	39%	22%

Base: GB women (n=1,033).

 

 

Date Published: 26th April 2015

Categories: GE2015 | Politics | Public and communities | Social | UK | Voting Intention

Client: Sunday Mirror

Methodology

Methodology Note: ComRes interviewed 1,033 British women online between 22^nd and 23^rd April 2015. Data were weighted to be demographically representative. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

1. Sunday-Mirror_Womens-Poll-24th-April-2015 0.02 MB.