Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests

Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests

Survey finds party members see health, the economy, cost of living and climate crisis among biggest challenges Andy Burnham has inherited a Labour membership that is sceptical about increased welfare spending, supportive of higher defence spending, and ranks the climate crisis as one of the country’s biggest challenges, according to new polling. The survey of 788 members between the end of June and the end of July shows them ranking health (43%), the economy (42%), cost of living (39%) and climate change (29%) as Britain’s most important issues, ahead of welfare benefits (7%) and immigration (6%). Continue reading...

theguardian.com

People often assume they know what Labour members think. We decided to ask them. The results might surprise you. Labour members back higher defence spending in an increasingly uncertain world and support reducing welfare spending.

Labour members ‘have tougher view on welfare than you might think’, poll suggests

Survey finds party members see health, the economy, cost of living and climate crisis among biggest challenges

theguardian.com

Why is it still harder to book a driving test than get Glastonbury tickets? Our latest substack looks at why the driving test backlog still hasn't been fixed six years after the pandemic - and argues the real obstacle isn't logistics, it's politics.

Why Josh Widdecombe’s wife is a victim of the cost of living

Amelia Wood, Policy Advisor

thinklabour.substack.com

Fiscal devolution is one of the most important reforms this government can deliver to drive growth, strengthen local leadership and improve public services.

The National Care Service has been promised before. Why could this time be different? Our latest substack by Policy Director, @abbyabhaya.bsky.social, explores the politics of care reform, intergenerational fairness, and whether Labour can finally deliver a National Care Service.

The debt of dignity - reviving the National Care Service

Abby Jitendra

thinklabour.substack.com

In the days before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, we welcomed Deputy Leader Lucy Powell to discuss one of our latest reports, Who is Labour for?

Today Britain has a new Prime Minister. So we brought together a focus group with Labour considerers to ask a simple question: what do they actually think of Andy Burnham? Read about the challenges he faces in public opinion in our latest substack, by @cwp-weir.bsky.social

Turn and Face the Strange.

Calum Weir, Research Manager

thinklabour.substack.com

A statement regarding our CEO.

Who is Labour for? With a new PM stepping into number 10 on Monday, that question has never been more important. At ThinkLabour, we’re keeping it front and centre. Yesterday we sat down with the Deputy Leader of the Labour party, Lucy Powell, to tackle it head on.

Hello! Outside of my work at @thinklabour.bsky.social, I’ve been squirrelling away at a polling aggregator. This is www.pollingpolis.co.uk! It has all the usual stuff but, crucially, also has a wee view for Age, Gender and Past Vote, plus much more for customising and sifting through. Have fun!

Keir Starmer's complaint that he kept "pulling levers" only to find nothing happened reveals a deeper truth about political leadership. The best politicians don't rely on formal power. They build leverage, broker coalitions, and find ways to get things done anyway. Read more here:

Looking for leverage

Greg Power

thinklabour.substack.com

What if we thought about political leadership the way every other sector does? This is a fascinating piece from someone who has spent a career developing leaders outside politics. Offering a refreshing perspective on leadership, culture, crisis and authenticity that Westminster rarely hears.

Leadership

Sue Rubenstein

thinklabour.substack.com

Democratised, Devolved and Digitised. In a new report today, I have written about how the 3 Ds can be an approach for improving our public services as the government looks for a new direction. 1/5

We're pleased to see today's Guardian coverage of our new report on the next phase of English devolution. The report makes the case for a bold shift in power - giving mayors greater responsibility over skills, childcare, social care, public health and other key services.

England’s mayors should be given sweeping new powers, says devolution expert

Exclusive: Burnham-aligned thinktank calls for devolution of public services including social care, childcare and skills

theguardian.com

Democratic Public Services, a new report by @jpspencer.bsky.social , our Director of Devolution Policy argues it's time for a new approach to public services.

Democratic Public Services • ThinkLabour

ThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development.

thinklabour.co.uk

Our first ThinkLab took place last night, kicking off a new monthly series tackling the biggest questions facing the Labour government.

The two feelings shaping Britain today are unfairness and insecurity. Our new report argues for a new social contract: a welfare state built on contribution. One that supports those most in need while giving everyone confidence that the state will be there when times get tough.

Pay It, See It, Get It • ThinkLabour

ThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development.

thinklabour.co.uk

What is the real lesson of Makerfield? Our Director of Research, Christabel Cooper, appeared on Times radio yesterday to discuss the importance of consolidating the progressive block under the Labour banner.

A statement from ThinkLabour on the Prime Minister's resignation.

A remarkable Labour win last night. The real lesson of Makerfield? In our latest substack, Christabel Cooper explains why rebuilding a larger progressive coalition, while persuading more transactional voters that Labour can stand up for them and deliver in office is the path to beating Reform.

The real lesson of Makerfield

Christabel Cooper, Director of Research

thinklabour.substack.com

Absolutely fascinating polling by @christabelcoops.bsky.social @thinklabour.bsky.social. Says a lot about the (mis)perceptions of voters - and the cues they use to evaluate the social background of politicians.

Arresting and amusing statistic from @christabelcoops.bsky.social here: a majority of voters (52 per cent) believe that Angela Rayner was born into a middle class or upper class family, rising to more than 60 per cent of Green voters:

Too posh to poll? What happens when voters think politicians are more privileged than they really are

Christabel Cooper, Director of Research, ThinkLabour

thinklabour.substack.com

Only 14% of the public believe Keir Starmer was born into a working-class family. In fact, our latest research suggests that voters often assume politicians come from more privileged backgrounds than they really do.

Only 14% of the public believe Keir Starmer was born into a working-class family. In fact, our latest research suggests that voters often assume politicians come from more privileged backgrounds than they really do.

'Thames Water played at capitalism, and it lost. The government needs to make sure reckless companies lose their shirts. Otherwise voters conclude the system is rigged and Labour is a party protecting the status quo.' Read Dan's report from February - thinklabour.co.uk/thinking/let...

Let Thames Water fail • ThinkLabour

ThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development.

thinklabour.co.uk

Dan Mead@danmead.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Great to see action from the government on Thames Water. The creditors deal did not offer enough for consumers or the environment. At ThinkLabour we called for the government to not accept any deal that involved watering down pollution standards. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

What a fantastic evening at the ThinkLabour launch party!

Really worth reading @thinklabour.bsky.social's new political economy piece. It sees technology as an engine of growth but in order to save social democracy not ignore it, as Blair's essay did. It proposes a bigger state, but one that stays in its lane and lets business get on with what it's good at

ThinkLabour@thinklabour.bsky.social · 2mo ago

What should Labour’s political economy look like in an age of rapid technological change? Today, ThinkLabour launches Progressive Dynamism by our Director of Policy, James Howat. thinklabour.co.uk/thinking/pro...

What should Labour’s political economy look like in an age of rapid technological change? Today, ThinkLabour launches Progressive Dynamism by our Director of Policy, James Howat. thinklabour.co.uk/thinking/pro...

Progressive Dynamism • ThinkLabour

ThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development.

thinklabour.co.uk

Today, ThinkLabour launches its new Substack!

We're recruiting new Board Directors at ThinkLabour. This is an opportunity for experienced leaders to help shape bold policy ideas, strengthen governance, and support Labour's future success in government. Find out more here! thinklabour.co.uk/thinking/boa...

Board Director Appointments • ThinkLabour

ThinkLabour is a think tank working at the heart of British politics to support the Labour movement with research, strategy, and policy development.

thinklabour.co.uk