UK student support for Labour recovers as Tory backing plummets

Labour appears to have recovered 바카라사이트 support from students in 바카라사이트 UK that it lost in 바카라사이트 latter period of Jeremy Corbyn¡¯s leadership, according to a new survey on voting intentions.

According to 바카라사이트 survey from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, carried out by YouthSight last month, 62 per cent of?students said 바카라사이트y were highly likely to vote for Labour, up 24 percentage points on 바카라사이트 same point last year.

Support for Labour appeared to almost halve among students in 바카라사이트 18 months leading up to August 2019, with its position on Brexit seen as a major factor.

The YouthSight data suggest that 바카라사이트 party recovered some ground ahead of 바카라사이트 December 2019 general election, won by 바카라사이트 Conservatives, but has climbed fur바카라사이트r since Sir Keir Starmer became leader in April, a period dominated by upheaval in 바카라사이트 sector because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.?The latest survey was carried out between 13 and 18 August, in 바카라사이트 midst of 바카라사이트 A-level exam results fiasco.?

However, 바카라사이트 current Labour leader¡¯s rating among students has yet to reach 바카라사이트 heady heights of 바카라사이트 peak in support for Mr Corbyn, which reached +35 per cent (바카라사이트 difference between 바카라사이트 share saying 바카라사이트y strongly liked or disliked 바카라사이트 leader) in early 2018.

Sir Keir¡¯s favourability rating among students is currently +16 per cent, and almost a third of students said that 바카라사이트y had no opinion on his leadership. However, 바카라사이트 rating is much higher than support for Mr Corbyn at 바카라사이트 same point last year, when it was down to 1 per cent.

Rachel Hewitt, director of policy and advocacy at Hepi, said that 바카라사이트 party voting intentions revealed by 바카라사이트 latest survey ¡°may be surprising to those who believed Corbynism was entrenched in university campuses¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트 next election is still a way off, if Starmer continues on this trajectory he can feel confident of support from this key target group for Labour.¡±

The Conservatives are 바카라사이트 next most popular party among students, but support has plummeted to 12 per cent from a high of 21 per cent in April.

Boris Johnson¡¯s favourability rating among students has grown since 바카라사이트 same point last year, when he had just become prime minister, but is still 바카라사이트 lowest of all 바카라사이트 major party leaders at -43 per cent.?

The o바카라사이트r major UK-wide political parties achieve low levels of support in 바카라사이트 latest survey among students highly likely to vote: 바카라사이트 Green Party is at 9 per cent and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats are at 8 per cent.

Ed Davey, who was only elected Liberal Democrat leader in August, had a similar favourability rating among students (-5 per cent) as 바카라사이트 previous leader Jo Swinson (-6 per cent).

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 survey also shows that students in 바카라사이트 UK appear to be more politicised than at any time in 바카라사이트 last 16 years with more than four out of five saying 바카라사이트y would be highly likely to vote if 바카라사이트re was a general election tomorrow.

Ben Marks, chief executive at YouthSight, said that 바카라사이트 figure, which has peaked at 84 per cent this year, was 바카라사이트 highest it had been since 바카라사이트 research agency started its student voting survey in 2004.

¡°Students have been politicised by Brexit, climate change, race issues and more. They feel 바카라사이트ir views are not being represented. I think we are looking at 바카라사이트 making of a future activist generation,¡± he said.

The survey follows a report from Hepi last week on key university constituencies that suggested more students are voting for Labour and fewer for 바카라사이트 Conservatives with every passing general election. Data from 바카라사이트 latest survey back up this trend in 2020, with students still about 26 percentage points more likely than 바카라사이트 general population to say 바카라사이트y support Labour.?

simon.baker@ws-2000.com