Snap poll: voters concerned over energy security and bills following Labour U-turn

New polling by Opinium for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has found that only 14% of people were ‘very aware’ of Labour’s proposed £28 billion a year investment plans, but roughly double (26%) were very aware of the recent U-turn on the plan [1].

Double the number of people (31%) thought the decision would have a negative impact on the “cost of energy bills for ordinary people” versus those (15%) who thought the impact on bills would be positive. Likewise, roughly double (33%) thought it would have a negative impact on “Britain's ability to control its own energy supply” verses those (17%) who thought it would be positive.

More people (43%) thought the U-turn meant Labour had “no real plan for what it would do differently if it wins power” than agreed (25%) that it showed “if it wins power, it will be responsible with the nation's finances”.

Of those respondents in constituencies lost by Labour since 2005, 44% thought the U-turn showed it “has no real plan for what it would do differently if it wins power”, compared with 22% who thought it showed “if it wins power, it will be responsible with the nation's finances”.

On which of two main parties are most trusted on energy and climate change, the largest response was neither (42%).

Previous polling found that a majority of the public supported the previous incarnation of Labour’s green investment plans. Nearly half (45%) said the pledge was “necessary” compared to a third (32%) who thought it was “reckless” [2].

The support ranked higher among business leaders. A poll conducted by Focaldata for ECIU showed that over three-quarters (79%) of business leaders would support a similar green investment package as the one introduced by United States. Over two thirds (66%) said of Labour’s green investment packaged “right now this plan brings more opportunities than risks” [3].