Suburban women aged 60 ‘could decide the election’

SUBURBAN women with an average age of just over 60 could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the next election, a think tank has said.

A new report published by More in Common, based on polling of more than 3,000 people, suggested voters who backed the Conservative Party in 2019 but are now undecided will determine whether or not Labour has a majority in the next Parliament.

The analysis, Behind the Voting Intention, also found those who have abandoned the Tories in favour of Reform UK are highly unlikely to return to Rishi Sunak’s party. Twenty-three per cent voted Labour and plan to do so again, while 22 per cent intend to stick with the Conservatives and a further five per cent planned to switch from the Tories to Labour.

Six per cent said they voted Tory in 2019 but were now undecided. Out of these, a greater number said they do not know how they will vote than those who were planning to switch to Labour.

Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, said: “Who these voters opt for will decide the scale of a Labour victory. While winning back this group won’t be enough to keep the Conservatives in power, they will determine the size of any likely Labour victory.”

Voters planning to switch from Conservative to Labour favour greater investment in the NHS and other public services. Among supporters of Reform, only 26 per cent said they would back Mr Sunak if the party did not have a candidate.

‘Reform UK voters aren’t simply Conservatives. And they are not in the mood to be wooed by the Tories’

Reform voters were also the most likely to support the abolition of the House of Lords. “Reform UK voters aren’t simply Conservatives,” Mr Tryl said. “And they are not in the mood to be wooed back by the Conservatives.”

The report found none of the party leaders were impressing voters, with Labour supporters far more likely to back Sir Keir’s party to vote the Conservatives out of Downing Street rather than strong affection for Labour itself.