Keir Starmer must fix the NHS to win back Reform voters, poll shows

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

A majority of former Labour supporters who switched to Reform UK last year said more cash for the NHS and lower waiting lists could bring them back to Keir Starmer's party
Fixing the NHS can help Keir Starmer to win over Reform voters, a poll shows today.
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A majority of former Labour supporters who switched to Reform UK last year said more cash for health and lower waiting lists could bring them back.
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Research by JL Partners found more than half of Labour voters who backed Nigel Farage's party at the last election said more NHS investment (58%) and tackling hospital waiting lists (52%) could persuade them to return to Labour.
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Four out of ten (40%) of all Reform voters said they would be less likely to support the party if it proposed changing to an insurance-based funding model - something Mr Farage has floated in the past.
Tackling the cost of living will also be crucial, with three quarters (75%) of the 1,079 voters quizzed saying Labour doesn't pay enough attention to pressures on family finances.
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More than half (56%) supported slapping a 2% annual tax on assets worth more than £2million, rising to 61% when the figure was increased to over £10million.
Despite Mr Farage's boasts of his chances at the next election, less than half (46%) insisted they were 'absolutely certain' to vote for his party.
Nearly three quarters 74%) said the performance of Reform controlled local councils would be crucial to their decision.
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And over half (57%) of Labour switchers were concerned Reform could merge or strike a stitch-up deal with the Tories.
On foreign policy, 44% said they would be less likely to vote for Reform if it appeared too friendly to Russia. More than three quarters (78%) said it was important to 'stand up' to Vladimir Putin.
Former Labour Cabinet Minister Jim Murphy, founder and executive chair of Arden Strategies, said: 'Contrary to a lot of the commentary around Westminster, the findings suggest that many are far from certain about how to vote at the next UK general election and are watching what progress the Government makes on the key issues that matter to them, like the NHS and the cost of living.'
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Tom Lubbock, founding partner at JL Partners, said: 'The good news for Labour is that Reform voters and those defectors from Labour have the same concerns as most of the country.
"They are 'Bills and Blue Lights' voters; they want to see much more attention on their cost of living and are reserving judgement on the progress that Labour has so far made on the NHS.
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"It's a tough audience, as this research shows, but one that can be won back by campaigning on those issues to show that Labour shares the same interests."
He said Reform faces a similar battle to show voters they can be trusted on key issues like the NHS and cost of living. But the new party also faces an added question over their lack of experience in governing.
:: JL Partners polled a nationally representative sample of 1,079 current Reform UK supporters between July 10-15.