Nearly half of red wall voters now disapprove of Labour’s benefits policy backlash, according to a new poll. The survey, covering 42 former Labour seats lost in 2019, reveals 48% criticize Keir Starmer’s government. Only 25% approve of its handling of welfare reforms.
Even among Labour’s own voters, opinions split sharply. The poll shows 38% support the government’s approach, while 38% oppose it. Merlin Strategy conducted the research, highlighting growing discontent.
Older voters lead the benefits policy backlash, with 60% of those over 65 disapproving. Just 12% praise ministers’ decisions. This follows Labour’s controversial winter fuel payment cuts, now limited to the poorest pensioners.
Meanwhile, Reform UK gains ground as the most trusted party on benefits. Nigel Farage plans to announce bold reforms, including scrapping the two-child benefit cap. He also promises to restore universal winter fuel payments.
Labour faces pressure on multiple fronts. Many MPs demand an end to the two-child limit, which activists say fuels child poverty. Stella Creasy, a Labour backbencher, argues abolishing it would lift 350,000 children from poverty overnight.
Additionally, proposed changes to disability payments spark unrest. The government wants stricter eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), aiming to push more people into work. Critics warn this could harm vulnerable claimants.
Despite the benefits policy backlash, junior health minister Karin Smyth defends the winter fuel adjustments. She calls it proof of a “listening government.” However, scepticism remains high.
Reform UK’s rising influence worries Labour. The party now leads on key issues like immigration, defence, and crime. Economists warn its spending plans could mirror Liz Truss’s disastrous 2023 mini-budget.
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