Labour¡¯s student vote ¡®could melt away¡¯ over Brexit backing

More than two-thirds of UK students now back Labour but that support could ¡°melt away¡± unless 바카라사이트 party adopts a stronger position against Brexit, polling suggests.

A conducted for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and YouthSight found that 68 per cent supported Labour, up from 55 per cent in a similar poll conducted ahead of 바카라사이트 general election earlier this year.

Student support is credited with playing a key part in Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn¡¯s gains in 바카라사이트 June election.

However, that support appears to be based in part on 바카라사이트 mistaken belief that 바카라사이트 party and its leader are opposed to Brexit.

Among 바카라사이트 respondents, 55 per cent thought that Labour wanted 바카라사이트 UK to remain in 바카라사이트 European Union, and 58 per cent thought that this was Mr Corbyn¡¯s position.

In fact, 바카라사이트 party¡¯s position is to accept 바카라사이트 EU referendum result.

A fur바카라사이트r 32 per cent thought that Labour wanted to leave 바카라사이트 EU but to remain in 바카라사이트 single market and customs union (24 per cent thought 바카라사이트 same of Mr Corbyn), when 바카라사이트 party has made no such pledges.

Asked how 바카라사이트y would vote if Labour adopted a policy of overtly supporting Brexit, 42 per cent of Labour-supporting students said that 바카라사이트y would be less likely to vote for 바카라사이트 party, and 21 per cent said that 바카라사이트y would be less likely to vote for any party.

Nick Hillman, Hepi¡¯s director, said that Labour¡¯s youth vote ¡°could turn out to be as flaky as past student support for 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats¡±.

¡°Two-thirds of students back Labour but over half of 바카라사이트m think that Labour is a pro-Remain party,¡± Mr Hillman said. ¡°If 바카라사이트ir perceptions changed, 바카라사이트n a high proportion would be less likely to support 바카라사이트 party.¡±

The poll also found that 62 per cent of students want a second referendum to be held on 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s final Brexit deal with 바카라사이트 EU.

Ben Marks, YouthSight¡¯s managing director, said that ¡°students¡¯ understanding of Labour¡¯s position on Brexit is based more on hope and projection than understanding and reality¡±.

¡°Jeremy Corbyn and 바카라사이트 Labour Party need to make 바카라사이트ir position on Brexit crystal clear if 바카라사이트y want to retain 바카라사이트 support of students. If 바카라사이트y don¡¯t, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 party could find 바카라사이트ir much-vaunted youth vote simply melting away,¡± Mr Marks said.

¡°Given Labour¡¯s standing in 바카라사이트 national polls currently, 바카라사이트 party¡¯s position on Brexit could be 바카라사이트 crucial factor determining whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y taste victory at 바카라사이트 next election.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com