The Labour Muslim Network has partnered with one of the UK's largest polling organisations - Survation - to conduct an exclusive poll of British Muslim voters in 2024.
Nearly 3 years on from the first and historic partnership between Survation and the Labour Muslim Network, we have come together once again to explore British Muslim voter opinion once again. Since 2021, the political landscape has changed significantly - both for the country and for Muslim communities across the UK. This report explores both new data on the current views and opinions of British Muslims and delves into the deeper reasons why shifts in opinion may have taken place. We hope that it can both enlighten our political discourse and shed light on key challenges we face ahead of a crucial general election.
The poll was conducted by Survation via telephone interview. A combination of landline and mobile data were called. Field work was conducted between 18th January and 3rd February 2024.
Results:
If there were a general election tomorrow, and there were candidates from all political parties standing in your constituency, for which party would you vote?
Labour: 43% (-43)
Conservative: 6% (-4)
Green: 10% (+9)
Liberal Democrat: 6% (+5)
SNP: 3% (+1)
Other: 4% (+4)
Undecided: 23%
*Changes shown are compared with 2019 general election vote share as per Survation poll in 2021.
When it comes to how I will vote at the next general election, the position of British political leaders on the Israel-Palestine conflict will be…
Very important: 70%
Somewhat important: 15%
Neither important nor unimportant: 6%
Not that important: 3%
Not at all important: 2%
Don’t know: 3%
Which, if any, of the following political parties do you most identify with?
Labour: 49% (-23)
Green: 9% (+9)
Conservative: 9% (-)
Liberal Democrat: 5% (+4)
SNP: 3% (+1)
Another party: 1% (-)
None: 16% (+7)
Don’t know: 6% (+4)
* Changes shown are compared with Survation poll as per 2021.
To what extent do you think favourably or unfavourably towards the following political parties?
Labour
Strongly favourable: 20% (-8)
Somewhat favourable: 28% (-6)
Neither favourable nor unfavourable: 19% (+2)
Somewhat unfavourable: 11% (-)
Strongly unfavourable: 16% (+8)
Don’t know: 5% (+4)
NET Favourability: +21% (-21)
Conservatives
Strongly favourable: 3% (-1)
Somewhat favourable: 11% (-4)
Neither favourable nor unfavourable: 17% (-3)
Somewhat unfavourable: 16% (-5)
Strongly unfavourable: 48% (+12)
Don’t know: 6% (+3)
NET Favourability: -50% (-11)
* Changes shown are compared with Survation poll as per 2021.
To what extent do you think favourably or unfavourably towards the following political figures?
Keir Starmer
Strongly favourable: 10% (+6)
Somewhat favourable: 20% (+2)
Neither favourable nor unfavourable: 21% (-3)
Somewhat unfavourable: 10% (-6)
Strongly unfavourable: 29% (+16)
Don’t know: 1% (-17)
NET Favourability: -11% (+4)
Rishi Sunak
Strongly favourable: 4%
Somewhat favourable: 8%
Neither favourable nor unfavourable: 14%
Somewhat unfavourable: 14%
Strongly unfavourable: 56%
Don’t know: 5%
NET Favourability: -58%.
* Changes shown are compared with Survation poll as per 2021. Rishi Sunak was not polled in 2021.
In the past 12 months, has your view of the following political parties become more favourable or more unfavourable?
Labour
More favourable: 15%
Somewhat more favourable: 19%
Neither more favourable nor more unfavourable: 22%
Somewhat more unfavourable: 14%
Much more unfavourable: 24%
Don’t know: 5%
Conservative
More favourable: 2%
Somewhat more favourable: 9%
Neither more favourable nor more unfavourable: 22%
Somewhat more unfavourable: 21%
Much more unfavourable: 41%
Don’t know: 5%
Statement from the Labour Muslim Network
“For decades the Muslim community has been amongst the most loyal Labour supporters anywhere in the United Kingdom. The findings of this new opinion poll shows a startling collapse of this electoral and communal relationship.
This is a crisis point for the future of the relationship between the British Muslim community and the Labour Party.
These findings come in the context of over 100 days of Israel’s continuous assault on Gaza. Over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed, more than 10,000 of whom are children, and the Labour Party’s response has been unacceptable and deeply offensive to Muslims across Britain. Muslim voters have been watching and are now sending a clear message - they will not support any political party that does not fervently oppose the crimes committed against the people of Gaza.
The Labour leadership must change paths now or risk losing the support of the Muslim community for a generation.”