Union bosses and MPs all key to winning EU vote, LabourList readers say

LabourList readers have voted to say trade unions are just as important as MPs for communicating political messages to the public.

Almost half of readers – 44 per cent – said that the voices of trade unionists were just as effective for getting through to voters ahead of the EU referendum.

There was a balance of readers who thought one group was a better communicator. Just over 20 per cent said they could cut through the the public more but 22 per cent said MPs were more trusted.

Workers’ representatives, such as Frances O’Grady, have made high-profile interventions in the EU debate, with the TUC General Secretary warning the NHS is at risk from low staffing and higher waiting times if Britain votes for Brexit. Yesterday GMB general secretary Tim Roache also made the case for staying In based on the need to protect workers’ rights.

There have been recent fears the Labour movement may not understand the party’s position is to Remain in the EU with many fearful the party’s position has been drowned out by Tory in-fighting.

A slim majority of LabourList readers are optimistic about this. Just over half, 56 per cent of readers, said they expect the majority of Labour supporters to vote for stay in Europe, while a notable 24 per cent have said they expect the opposite to be true.

One in five readers have said they don’t know, with 20 per cent opting not to comment on the question. The survey was carried out between Tuesday and Thursday of last week.

Over recent days the party has stepped up its efforts to communicate left-wing messages to our heartlands, with John McDonnell, Gordon Brown, Tom Watson and Jeremy Corbyn all making appeals to the Labour’s working class supporters.