Gaza Conflict Drives Major Drop in UK Labour Party Support, Study Finds
A new UK study suggests that Gaza has become a major factor behind the decline in support for the Labour Party among former voters, highlighting the political impact of Britain’s stance on Israel’s war on the enclave.
The Opinium poll found that more than half of Labour voters who now support centre or left-leaning parties said the government’s backing of Israel during the Gaza conflict influenced their decision to switch allegiance.
According to the study, 40.7% of 2024 Labour voters moved to the Green Party in recent local elections, while 29.6% shifted to the Liberal Democrats. Smaller shares went to Reform UK and the Conservatives.
Among those who changed their vote to centre or left-wing parties, 53% said Gaza played a role in their decision, with 21% saying it had a strong influence and 31% saying a moderate impact.
The report also found younger voters were most influenced, with 66% of 18–34-year-olds citing Gaza as a factor. Supporters of the Green Party were particularly likely to say the issue shaped their vote.
The poll, commissioned by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of the Earth, suggests Labour has lost ground to both the Greens and Liberal Democrats, with analysts noting the Greens made some of the biggest gains in recent local elections.
