Labour voters are turning against the poor – Media roundup: May 14th, 2013

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Labour voters are turning against the poor

“Labour party supporters increasingly believe that welfare recipients are undeserving and that the welfare state encourages dependence, with a noticeable share saying that poverty is caused by a personal failing rather than a problem with society, a landmark study reveals. A report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation examined the links between public attitudes to poverty, welfare and the state of the economy using data collected as part of the British Social Attitudes survey. It found that the traditional view that the poor were seen sympathetically during recessions has disappeared, with support for welfare “largely confined (to) recipients of unemployment benefits”. The report says there is a “general trend” where the public accepts that individual characteristics rather than societal issues cause poverty. Most striking was that this change over the past 30 years can be put down to the shifting opinions of Labour voters. Just 27% of the country’s leading left-wing party voters cite social injustice as the main cause of poverty, down from 41% during the height of Thatcherism back in 1986. During the same time Labour supporters blaming the individual rose from 13% to 22%.” – Guardian

Lord Ahmed quits Labour Party

“The senior Labour peer Lord Ahmed resigned from the Labour Party on Monday evening over allegations that he made anti-Semitic comments in a television interview. Lord Ahmed was due to appear before Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee on Wednesday to answer accusations that he blamed a Jewish conspiracy for his dangerous driving jail term. Last night he said he was “very disappointed” with Labour’s handling of the situation, insisting he did not want to “appear before any kangaroo court where the rules of justice had been denied”.” – Independent

Other highlights

• The Conservative Party have become ungovernable – Janan Ganesh, FT
• Did Labour send out “search parties” to encourage people to come to Britain – Daily Mail
• Umunna says Labour would lift trade with Africa – Guardian