U.K. Labour Party’s Anti-Austerity Image Cost Votes, Poll Finds
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The U.K.’s opposition Labour Party lost the May general election because its message on the economy was unclear and voters saw it as anti-austerity, a review of the reasons for the defeat found.
Jon Cruddas, the Labour lawmaker leading the inquiry, said 58 percent of voters saw cutting the deficit as the top priority for the government and doubted the party’s ability to do so, citing a poll of 3,000 voters carried out by YouGov Plc last month. The survey also showed the extent of voters’ concerns about an post-election alliance between Labour and the Scottish National Party. Labour posted its worst general-election result since 1987.