Labour with record 17-point lead over Conservatives among UK businesses ahead of election – Savanta
Labour Party holds record 17-point lead over Conservatives among UK businesses, in first Savanta Business Tracker since the general election was announced
1,000 business leaders were asked who would be ‘best for business in the UK’, with Labour on 49%, and the Conservatives on 32%, the biggest gap Savanta has ever recorded
Starmer (46%) has also extended his lead over Rishi Sunak (31%) to 15-points among UK business leaders, while Reeves (32%) regains her lead over Hunt (29%)
When asked what election outcome would be best for UK businesses, half (48%) of business leaders say either a majority Labour government or Labour as largest party
1 June 2024 -The Labour Party holds a record 17-point lead over the Conservatives among UK businesses, in the first Savanta Business Tracker since the general election was announced.
The new polling, where 1,000 business decision makers were asked which party would be ‘best for business in the UK’ showed Labour on 49%, and the Conservatives on 32%, the biggest gap Savanta has ever recorded and a 4-point increase on their lead in April’s tracker. One in five (19%) say they don’t know.
Among small business leaders, Labour (48%) has an 18-point lead over the Conservatives (30%), whereas the lead for Labour (52%) over the Conservatives (38%) is slimmer among medium and large-sized businesses, defined by the number of employees in the business.
Labour leader Keir Starmer (46%) has extended his lead over Rishi Sunak (31%) to 15-points among UK business leaders, with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they don’t know. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves (32%) also regains her lead over Jeremy Hunt (29%), with four in ten (39%) saying they don’t know.
When asked what election outcome would be best for UK businesses:
Half (48%) of business leaders say either a majority Labour government or Labour as the largest party,
Three in ten (31%) who say a Conservative majority or as the largest party.
One in seven (14%) say it will make no difference.
Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta says,
“One of the key tests of this election will be who the public trusts with the UK economy, and business support is a key litmus test of economic credibility, in particular for the Labour Party.”
“This election will be won by voters, not business leaders, but the change in business opinion towards the Labour Party and its leaders has been nothing short of transformational.”