Tories ‘had one of their best results among working class’

The Conservative party probably had one of its best results among the working class in the general election but people on low incomes were still more likely to vote for Labour, a new study has revealed.

Both parties increased their support among low income voters by about 8% but neither made a dramatic breakthrough at the expense of the other, said the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).

Low income voters were “pulled in different directions” by concerns over living standards and identity, the analysis found.

People on low incomes wanted their concerns around living standards to be addressed as well as Brexit delivered, but given the choice between the two, their economic circumstances outweighed concerns around identity and immigration, said the report.

JRF said its analysis showed how the new battleground at the next election will be among low income voters if the main parties are to secure a majority.

The research, by Professor Matthew Goodwin at the Kent University and Professor Oliver Heath at the Royal Holloway University, found that 42% of people on low incomes voted for Labour, compared to 37% for the Conservatives.

While the Conservative party’s stand on Brexit attracted some low-income voters, Labour’s message on the economy attracted them much more, said the report.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of JRF, said: “Neither of the main parties did enough to convince voters on low incomes they could offer meaningful change. This analysis shows that both of the main political parties have a lot of work to do to secure the votes of people on low incomes. The party that seizes this agenda could be more likely to secure a parliamentary majority at the next election.”