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6 hours ago
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Almost two years into Keir Starmer’s government, the polls suggest that many swing voters, including some of those who voted Labour, are unimpressed with how the country is being run.
In the constituency of Birmingham Yardley, a focus group of eight previous Labour voters last week found support was now splintering in different directions, with one person considering going to Reform and several to the Greens. The group, convened by More in Common, had very little good to say about the government on the key issues.
The cost of living
Most of the group said spiralling prices were their biggest concern. Bob, an engineering manager, said: “The wages doesn’t match the increase of everything every year so it just gets harder … Maybe you don’t go on holidays this year, maybe you used to be able to shop in M&S and now you shop somewhere else.”
Asma, a teacher, said: “Even if you were shopping in Aldi you could find things that were budget friendly – even those aren’t budget friendly any more … it’s like you spend a lot and pay a lot but what you receive is less.”
Dan, a tree surgeon and one of the younger members of the group, said: “We’re not having to live, but having to survive in a way.”
Several mentioned energy bills and petrol, with Brenda, a retired church warden, saying the government was giving no help at all – without anyone bringing up the energy cap.
On the winter fuel payment, Brenda said: “I’ve always voted Labour in my life. But I’ve got a different view now, to be honest … and I don’t see where they are helping the people who are in need. I go back to when they were going after the pensioners, who have done their time and yet they treated us in that way.”
Public services
Worries about the cost of living were bound up in frustration that higher taxes were not leading to better public services. Several of the participants mentioned worsening potholes and widespread rubbish on the streets.
Terry said: “I don’t see anything around me that makes my life actually better.”
David said he thought the working classes were getting hit the hardest, and those on benefits were getting “a lot more leeway” than those who were “carrying the country” by working. “There is nothing for us,” he said.
Asked if the government was helping enough, the participants near unanimously said those in power were “not helping enough” or “making it worse”.
Two of the group had noticed an increase in homelessness, with Kayla, a sales manager, saying the problem across Birmingham was “out of control” and identifying that it was linked to a lack of housing.
The NHS
Views on the health service were split. Some participants were not able to get GP appointments and had not noticed any improvement in services.
“Trying to get an appointment at the doctor or any of these services that you’re paying taxes for, it’s slower and more draining … you don’t really know where the money is being spent and you don’t really have any money either,” Asma said.
Brenda said getting an appointment was fairly easy at her surgery and she did not share the concerns of others.
The Iran war
No one thought Donald Trump’s war was a good idea, with Terry saying: “You can’t just go around invading other countries just because you want to. That’s actually ridiculous. That’s actually medieval.”
In terms of worries about the UK, Kayla said: “It’s affecting us in some parts, like in petrol and stuff, and I just feel like we don’t need to get involved.” There were also concerns about the spread of conflict. Taz said: “Are we going to be impacted by this more than we have been? … it’s in the back of my mind.”
No one gave Starmer much credit for his approach of not participating in the initial strikes, and there was scepticism about what defensive action meant. Bob said: “I really strongly feel we should have stayed out of it … There was no need to back the war … I don’t feel like us as a UK are built for war. We’re not like Russia or China where they’ve made loads of preparations.”
Tempted by Reform or the Greens?
Taz and Emma said they had heard Nigel Farage’s name but didn’t know much about him. In contrast, Dan said he thought Farage was “this country’s last hope … in some way I hope he will restore that part we’ve lost in that we keep on allowing illegal immigrants to keep coming in over and over.”
Brenda, David and Terry were very unconvinced by Farage. David said he felt the Reform UK leader was “an undercover racist” and “the UK’s version of Donald Trump waiting to get his foot in the door”. Terry said Farage “tries to be everyman but what he is saying is deplorable and trying to push the blame on certain demographics of people”.
As for Zack Polanski, the Green party leader, only Terry piped up when asked who had heard of him. He said people found “Keir Starmer has been very, very weak because [they] don’t know what he stands for … But Zack Polanski … is very much clear on what is happening. He seems to have very good morals.”
A few participants had heard of a local independent politician, Akhmed Yacoub, via social media. Taz said: “My son likes him … but to me I think I’m kind of in the middle. Everybody could be nice but when they’re in, they’ll change. I don’t trust anybody any more.”
What about Starmer and Labour?
None of these previous Labour voters were fans of Starmer any more and none said they would be backing Labour at the local elections. Emma said she had only recently realised that Labour was in power and “that stung” that nothing had changed.
Brenda said she was “going Greenpeace” this time. “My principle was Labour. But in view of how I see them operating now, they will not get my vote this year.”
David said of his local election vote: “I was just going to say the Greens, because I honestly do not trust the other parties. No party is going to be perfect.”
Asked for advice he would give to Starmer, Bob said: “Get a backbone, make a decision.” Dean said: “I’d say send less money to Ukraine and spend it more over here.” Terry asked him to “get onboard or get out”, while Taz said: “Economy and the cost of living.” Emma wanted Starmer to “stop straddling the fence”, and Brenda said: “I would say you need to look to help the middle people.” Dan wanted Starmer to “help young people”.
Asked what type of animal Starmer would be, one person said he was a cheetah because he ran away, and another a giraffe as he “has so much ego”. The rest were split between donkey and rat. Asked why a rat, they said: “Because he’s always hiding.”
