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Climate Policy Rollback Sparks Voter Concern: Tories at Risk in ‘Blue Wall’ and Marginals

Climate Backlash: Voters Demand Stronger Action on Climate Change

September 23, 2023, 8:47 pmupdated March 10, 2024, 1:42 pm 1.8k Views

Climate Policy Rollback Risks Tory Seats: Poll Reveals 'Climate Majority' In Blue Wall And Key Marginals

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Climate Policy Rollback Impact

Climate Policy Rollback Sparks Voter Concern: Tories at Risk in ‘Blue Wall’ and Marginals

Climate Policy Rollback Impact resonates as a clear warning of the potential consequences of reversing vital climate measures.

Climate Policy Rollback Impact: A Defining Moment for Tory Seats and Environmental Concerns

In a stunning turn of events, the Prime Minister’s recent rollback of key climate policies has ignited a firestorm of controversy, threatening to erode the Tory vote in numerous Parliamentary seats. This seismic shift in public sentiment was revealed in a comprehensive survey of 20,000 voters, shedding light on the resounding concerns over climate change and nature loss, which are most keenly felt in the ‘Blue Wall’ and marginal constituencies.

Conducted by Survation on behalf of Greenpeace, this groundbreaking poll factored in the implications of new boundaries for the upcoming General Election. The results are nothing short of a wake-up call for the Conservative Party, highlighting the stark reality that embracing green policies is no longer an option but a political imperative.

The ramifications of these findings reverberate far beyond party lines, transcending political affiliation. At the heart of the matter lies a resounding message from the electorate: the environment matters, and it will sway votes. As the world grapples with the looming climate crisis, voters are increasingly discerning about which leaders are committed to meaningful change.

YouGov Poll Spells Trouble for the Prime Minister

The gravity of the situation was further underscored by a recent YouGov poll, which unveiled a dramatic nosedive in the Prime Minister’s approval ratings. In the aftermath of his announcement to roll back key decarbonisation policies, Rishi Sunak’s net favorability rating plummeted to a staggering -45. A remarkable 68 percent of respondents voiced unfavorable views, while those with a favorable view dwindled to just 23 percent.

Perhaps most strikingly, the speech appeared to resonate particularly poorly with 2019 Liberal Democrat voters. While this demographic had previously been lukewarm in their reception of the Prime Minister, this figure took a nosedive, with a mere 12 percent of Lib Dem voters now holding a favorable view.

The implications of this plummet in popularity reverberate throughout the nation but hold particular resonance in the ‘Blue Wall’ seats, once solid Tory strongholds. These regions, located in the southern and western parts of the country, have now become battlegrounds for the Liberal Democrats, who are eyeing them as potential conquests.

Green Policies Gain Overwhelming Support

The overarching theme that emerges from this wealth of data is clear: climate and environmental policies matter deeply to the electorate. On a national scale, 70 percent of those surveyed regard these issues as ‘important’ and assert that they will influence their voting decisions in the upcoming election.

However, the numbers take a substantial leap in marginal and ‘Blue Wall’ seats, where almost three-quarters of voters consider climate and environmental policies as paramount. This surge in concern extends even further in the so-called bellwether seats identified by Greenpeace’s political analysts, with residents demonstrating a strong inclination towards green policies, heightened climate awareness, and a resounding call for political action on environmental matters.

Specifically, the survey reveals that 85 percent of ‘Blue Wall’ and 86 percent of marginal seat voters advocate for increased government support to insulate homes, reflecting the growing consensus on the need for energy efficiency. Furthermore, 73 percent of respondents in such constituencies clamor for additional funding for heat pumps, emphasizing the demand for sustainable heating solutions.

The message for renewable energy is equally loud and clear, with an overwhelming majority—88 percent in ‘Blue Wall’ and 87 percent in marginal seats—expressing their desire for more significant investments in this sector. Moreover, 79 percent believe in subsidizing rail travel to ensure it is consistently more economical than driving, offering a glimpse into the shifting dynamics of transportation preferences.

Wealth Tax and Windfall Tax Find Favor

A remarkable aspect of this survey is the level of support for financial measures that contribute to environmental progress. In ‘Blue Wall’ constituencies, a staggering four out of five residents endorse the concept of a wealth tax targeting the wealthiest individuals to fund climate action. An overwhelming 87 percent also favor a loophole-free windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies, underscoring the public’s appetite for corporate accountability in environmental matters.

These measures resonate just as strongly in marginal constituencies, with 82 percent expressing support for a wealth tax and nearly nine in ten backing a loophole-free windfall tax. This groundswell of support highlights a growing consensus on the need for innovative funding mechanisms to drive climate action.

The Call for Climate Action Grows Louder

These findings come against the backdrop of a rapidly changing political landscape and evolving public attitudes toward climate action. The Survation poll, conducted between August 18 and September 1, predates Rishi Sunak’s controversial announcement to delay the ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles until 2035 and scrap energy efficiency standards for rented homes.

Another poll, conducted by Public First for the think tank Onward, underscores the popularity of the UK’s net-zero emissions target by 2050 among voters of all stripes. Remarkably, 49 percent of Conservative voters express support for this target, compared to a mere 20 percent who oppose it. These figures are indicative of a profound shift in public sentiment, transcending traditional party lines.

A Clear Message from the Voters

In the midst of this tumultuous landscape, Georgia Whitaker, a climate campaigner at Greenpeace UK, points out the resounding message emanating from the UK’s most fiercely contested seats: climate change matters, and bold policies to combat it are imperative. She highlights the precarious position in which Sunak now finds himself, warning of potential damage to his party’s standing in both Tory strongholds and key marginal constituencies.

While Sunak maintains his commitment to the UK’s emissions targets, his efforts to deliver decarbonization in a more “pragmatic” manner have triggered a wave of criticism. The decision to eliminate several climate policies and question the affordability of crucial measures has drawn furious responses from business leaders, who warn of the adverse impact on investment in the net-zero transition.

As the next general election looms, Whitaker emphasizes the need for political leaders to heed voters’ concerns on the climate. She underscores the fact that the majority of the UK population seeks more, not less, climate action. The existing “climate majority” will become a formidable political force, compelling all parties to address this pressing issue.

Unraveling the Trustworthiness of Government

Further polling, commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) and conducted by Focaldata among over 1,600 adults, highlights the risk of the government’s rollback of net-zero policies. When asked about the government’s intention to push back or scrap previously committed climate policies, 40 percent of respondents deemed such a move ‘untrustworthy,’ while a quarter characterized it as ‘chaotic.’ Only 29 percent regarded it as ‘sensible.’

Moreover, a significant 60 percent of those surveyed believe that the UK should be one of the world’s most ambitious nations in addressing climate change, irrespective of the actions of other countries. This marks a decisive shift away from waiting for global consensus and toward leadership in combating the climate crisis.

A third of adults viewed any decision by the Prime Minister to delay or scale back climate-related policies as ‘reckless,’ and another third described it as ‘backward.’ A mere 29 percent considered it ‘sensible,’ while around one in six saw it as ‘forward-looking.’

Climate Policy Rollback Sparks Voter Concern: Tories at Risk in ‘Blue Wall’ and Marginals

As the world grapples with the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, it’s evident that people are increasingly concerned about the impact of these issues on their lives and the future of our planet. The recent poll results revealed in this article highlight the growing importance of climate and environmental policies in the minds of voters, especially in key battleground seats and ‘Blue Wall’ constituencies.

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