A new YouGov poll has revealed that Labour lost nearly four times as many voters to the Green Party than to Reform UK during the recent local elections. According to the survey, 22% of those who voted Labour in the 2024 general election switched their support to the Greens this month, compared with just 6% who moved to Reform UK.
Labour's Declining Support
The poll indicates that only 46% of 2024 Labour voters remained loyal to the party in the local elections. This exodus contributed to Labour losing almost six in ten seats it was defending, resulting in one of its worst-ever performances at the polls and triggering a leadership crisis within the party.
Greens' Candidate Controversy
On Thursday night, the Greens' candidate for the Makerfield by-election, Zack Polanski, withdrew from the race after the party was approached with a story about him. Polanski had already faced criticism for standing a candidate at all, amid calls from within the Greens to allow Labour's Andy Burnham an unimpeded run. Former Green leader Caroline Lucas had warned Polanski about splitting the left-wing vote and potentially allowing Reform to win.
Despite the controversy, Polanski boasted on Thursday that the Greens 'can take votes from Reform in a way Labour just can't', adding: 'We know there are many voters fed up with the status quo who will only choose between Reform and Greens.' He stated that the Greens would use the by-election to 'press Andy Burnham on what kind of MP and prime minister he would be'.
