Labour’s EU campaign will not hit core vote, survey results say

Labour’s campaign to remain in the EU will not distance the the party from its electoral base, LabourList readers have said.

Last week, Labour Out campaigner Frank Field claimed Labour’s campaign to stay in the EU would distance the party from working class voters, with him estimating 40 per cent of Labour supporters would back leaving the EU.

However, almost 65 per cent of readers disagree, saying the party’s pro-European stance would not damage the party. Only 19 per cent agreeing with Field, with 16 per cent saying they were unsure.

Trade unions such as Unite, Unison and the TUC have all backed staying in Europe, which might support the conclusion that Labour’s traditional base is more europhile than Field suggests.

Readers overwhelmingly supported Heidi Alexander’s decision to demand Jeremy Hunt scale back to a pilot the imposition of new contracts for junior doctors.

A majority – 81 per cent of readers – said the shadow Health Secretary was right to call on Hunt to back down over the dispute. Junior doctors carried out their first all-out strike last week, refusing to provide emergency and intensive care on top of the routine care they have previously withheld.

Only 14 per cent of readers said Alexander should not have done so. LabourList readers have polled in consistently support of industrial action from the BMA, with our February poll showing a majority of readers back all-out strikes from junior doctors.

The row between the Health Secretary and medical staff has not extended to Wales, where the Assembly oversees the delivery of health services (and has not adopted the Conservatives’ privatisation strategy). Almost 60 per cent of readers backed the Welsh Labour party’s approach and said it should consider forming a minority government after Assembly elections this week.

Labour currently has a majority in the Assembly but stands to drop to 28 seats – two short of overall control – on Friday.

Some 15 per cent of readers think they should not form a majority Government – which could mean many prefer Welsh Labour to seek a majority through coalition in Cardiff.

A larger proportion – 26 per cent – said they were unsure, potentially reflecting the lack of coverage in the mainstream media of the Welsh elections.