UK: GQR’s post-election poll for the TUC shows the Conservatives’ new voters want to protect workers’ rights & invest in public services

Sunday, December 22nd, 2019

A new study carried out by GQR on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) shows that a large majority of 2019 General Election voters – including those who voted for the Conservatives– want the new government to protect rights at work, fund public services even through higher taxes, and raise the minimum wage.

GQR’s research reveals that 73% of voters would like the government to retain current, EU-guaranteed workplace rights, which cover areas including paid holiday and the treatment of agency workers. This figure rises to 79% amongst those who switched to the Conservatives in 2019 from Labour.

Voters across the board are also strongly in favour of an increase in the minimum wage to £10 per hour, with 68% of voters supporting it including 60% of Conservatives. GQR’s poll further shows that a ban on zero-hours contracts is supported by 66% of voters.

The survey finds that the most important issue for voters this election was the NHS (with 63% putting it in their top three issues), closely followed by Brexit (with 55%) and the economy (29%). Asked to choose between paying more tax to fund decent public services, and keeping taxes low while squeezing public services, 59% chose the former.

GQR designed and carried out the survey of 2,975 people in Great Britain, aged 18 and over. Fieldwork was conducted online with results weighted to the national profile by age, gender, region, social grade, ethnicity, educational level and parties’ vote share at the 2019 General Election.

Data tables for the poll are available to download here.

For more information, contact GQR’s London Vice President Peter McLeod, on Twitter @mcleodp or info@gqrr.com.