Labour could lose 1m voters over antisemitism row

Labour could lose nearly one million votes at the next general election due to the ongoing issue concerning antisemitism in the party, according to the findings of a new poll.

The results of the survey, carried out by Campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism, indicate the issues surrounding antisemitism in the party could determine how up to 900,000 people vote.

Antisemitism was found to have the biggest impact among not only potential Labour voters, but also those who may vote for them in the future. 

Results of the poll showed how 32% of potential Labour voters think the party has a problem with anti-semitism, 39% of whom claim it would make them less likely to vote for them – which amounts to 12% of potential Labour voters, which equates to around 500,000 people.

Labour waverers – people who would currently vote Labour, but could change their mind, 28% feel the party has a problem with antisemitism, and from that group, 26% say if the problem isn’t addressed, they would be much less likely to vote Labour. This figure equates to 7% of Labour waverers, or about 300,000 voters.

From ‘Solid’ Labour voters, 11% believe the party has a problem with antisemitism, 2% of which say it would make them much less likely to vote for them, accounting for roughly 100,000 voters.

The YouGov poll, which was carried out between 10-13 September, questioned 5,000 people, making it the largest one yet on antisemitism issue engulfing Labour. It also revealed how only 17% of those polled felt leader Jeremy Corbyn was performing either “well” or “very well”, compared to 19% who answered “badly” and 31% who said “very badly”.

In so far as how he handled accusations of antisemitism in the party, just a fifth had said he had been “competent”, with 58% saying he had been “incompetent”.

Euan Philipps, of Labour Against Anti-semitism, said: “This poll delivers a damning judgment on a Labour leader who has lost the moral authority to lead. Jeremy Corbyn’s foolish and misguided decision to spend an entire summer baiting the British Jewish community appears to have backfired drastically, and turned thousands of vital swing voters away from the Labour Party.

“Labour party members must now ask themselves how much they wish to remain loyal to Corbyn, how much they want to risk further tarnishing the party’s already sullied reputation for fighting racism, and how much they want a Labour government. Because while Mr Corbyn remains leader the prospect of a Labour government remains increasingly far away.”

Labour said it was “fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community and its organisations. We are taking action against anti-semitism, standing in solidarity with Jewish communities, and rebuilding trust.”