Desire for change greater than during the 2024 general election campaign, research suggests

People think the need for change is now greater than it was during the general election campaign last year, according to new research by More in Common and the UCL Policy Lab. 

Asked about what has changed in the first year of Labour in government, the most popular response was “nothing”.  

Two-thirds of those who participated in the research also believe that Labour lacks respect for them, despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer placing respect at the heart of his election campaign. 

Since the general election, the number of Brits who feel this way about the Labour Party has risen from 32 to 65 per cent, according to the poll. 

It has suggested U-turns on election commitments, the decision to scrap winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners, proposed welfare reforms and immigration has negatively impacted the party’s voter base. 

While focusing on policies aimed at “ordinary people” such as improving the minimum wage, workers' rights and investments in high streets and communities could help the government get back on track. 

The poll suggests the apparent lack of respect is “driving support for Reform UK”. 

The party’s leader Nigel Farage is seen as the most respectful leader of a UK party, with 33 per cent of respondents saying they believe he respected them, compared to 24 per cent for the prime minister and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. 

These sentiments towards Labour and Reform UK have also been reflected in recent general election polling, with support for Farage’s party in the last month between 26 and 31 per cent, while Labour’s is between 22 and 27 per cent.  

Marc Stears, director of the UCL Policy Lab, said: “What voters want to know most of all is: who does this government stand for? What kind of people does it most respect? Whose interests does it put first? A lot of the electorate thought they knew the answer to that one year ago. Now they’re not so sure.”