Times Radio reveals WALES has double the confidence in Keir over Rishi Sunak

Times Radio reveals political opinion divides across the UK

• Over a third (39%) of UK respondents believe they could do a better job than most current politicians
• An overwhelming majority (73%) of people believe that Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party don’t understand local political issues. Over half (57%) expressed the same sentiment about Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
• The majority of the British public (61%) feel well-informed about national politics.
• Londoners (67%) are amongst those who consider themselves to be the best informed and contrast regions such as the East Midlands who are amongst the least, at just over half (53%) saying the same about themselves.
• 9% of Londoners would consider becoming an MP compared to 4% from the West Midlands.

London, Wednesday 19 June: Times Radio unveils the results of new polling data that reveals the regions in the UK with the highest levels of political knowledge, engagement, and ambition. This comprehensive survey, conducted across the nation, sheds light on regional differences in political awareness and trust in politicians as the country gears up for the 2024 General Election.

The research was commissioned by Times Radio in line with the launch of its Election Bus Tour – which took to the road on Monday 3 June. Broadcasting live from a studio within the giant branded tour bus, Times Radio is travelling across the UK to listen to the voices of local communities and highlight the political issues that matter most to them.

John Pienaar, Times Radio presenter, said:

 “This research shows people are interested and aware of what’s happening in politics, but feel politicians don’t understand what matters to them locally.

 We’ve hit the road with the Times Radio election bus to talk to people up and down the country. And to listen. We’ll be discussing the things people think really matter. We’ll make sure our listeners feel informed and involved as we get closer to election day.”

These insights come from research conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of Times Radio. Total sample size 4,092 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 31st May – 4th June 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Key Findings:

Aspirations to political leadership

• The survey explored the public’s aspirations to become political leaders, uncovering a significant interest in political roles. Over a third (39%) of all respondents believe they could do a better job than most current politicians.
• Additionally, 10% would consider running for local political office, and 7% would consider becoming an MP.
• Notably, men are around twice as likely as women to aspire to roles such as local councillor (14% vs 7%), and over three times as likely to aim for a position as an MP (10% vs 3%).
• 9% of Londoners would consider becoming an MP compared to 4% from the West Midlands

National politicians understanding local issues

• An overwhelming majority (73%) of people believe that Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party don’t understand local political issues. Over half (57%) expressed the same sentiment about Keir Starmer and the Labour Party.
• Regional differences were significant. In the North East, 86% distrusted Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives’ grasp of local issues, the highest in the country, while regions such as the East Midlands had amongst the lowest distrust at 69%.
• Scotland had amongst the most distrust in Keir Starmer and Labour, with 65% of respondents believing the party doesn’t understand local politics. Regions such as Yorkshire and the Humber had amongst the lowest percentage of people who felt this way, with 52%.

Informed on politics

• The majority of respondents (61%) felt well-informed about national politics, compared to 39% that said they felt informed about local issues. Additionally, 43% of UK adults reported often discussing politics with family and friends.
• Among regions, Londoners were amongst those who felt the most well-informed on national politics (67%), followed by residents of Yorkshire and the Humber (62%). The South West, East of England, Scotland, and Wales each reported 61% feeling well-informed, while the West Midlands and South East reported 60%. The North West followed with 59%, and the North East with 55% and the East Midlands had amongst the lowest percentage of residents feeling well-informed at 53%.

Biggest challenges facing politicians

• The survey highlights the increasing pressures faced by politicians today. The top challenge identified is the responsibility of making decisions that impact many people’s lives (47%), followed by being on the receiving end of abuse (35%) and the necessity of making difficult ethical decisions (28%).
• Some respondents (17%), however, lacked sympathy, asserting that there are no real challenges for politicians. These findings underscore the complexities and demands of political leadership in the current climate, as well as the disconnect with local communities.

London

• Londoners emerge as amongst the most politically aware and engaged in the UK. Nearly three-quarters of respondents in London (67%) feel well-informed about national politics. Additionally, Londoners are amongst the most comfortable discussing politics with friends and family, with nearly half (49%) indicating they frequently engage in such discussions.
• The majority of Londoners (71%) felt Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives don’t understand their local political issues. Over (53%) felt the same about Keir Starmer and Labour.
• London emerged, with 9% of respondents aspiring to become MP, the highest in the country. Additionally, 11% would consider running for local political office, and 41% believe they could do a better job than most current politicians.

Scotland

• In Scotland, respondents demonstrate robust political engagement, with 61% feeling well-informed about UK issues and 44% about Scottish political issues respectively.
• Nearly half (43%) often discuss politics with friends and family and 42% believe they could do a better job than most current politicians. However, when asked if they would consider running for national office, only 6% said yes.
• Out of all the regions, Scotland had amongst the least trust that Keir Starmer and Labour understand local political issues, with only 18% of respondents believing they understand their issues. However, even fewer Scots (10%) felt Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party understood Scottish political issues.

East Midlands

• The East Midlands had amongst the lowest percentage of people who feel well-informed about national politics (53%) and are amongst the least likely to engage in political discussions with friends and family, with just over a third (37%) saying they often do.
• Additionally, respondents in the East Midlands express a strong lack of trust in both Labour (53%) and Conservative party leaders’ (69%) understanding of local issues.
• Nearly a third of respondents (32%) believe they could do a better job than most current politicians.

West Midlands

• People in the West Midlands feel well-informed on both national (60%) and local politics (38%). Additional people in the West Midlands are likely to often engage in political topics during personal conversations (44%).
• West Midlands also expressed they believe both Labour (58%) and Conservative party leaders’ (73%) do not understand local issues.
• Nearly half of the respondents (42%) believe they could do a better job than most current politicians. However, when asked if they would ever consider running for national office, an astounding 90% of respondents in the West Midlands said no.

Yorkshire and the Humber

• Respondents in the Yorkshire and Humber region show a higher level of trust in Keir and the Labour Party’s understanding of local issues (25%) versus Rishi and the Conservative Party, which stands at 9%.
• The majority of respondents from Yorkshire and the Humber (62%) feel well informed about national politics and 42% saying they regularly discuss politics with family and friends.
• Over a third (36%) believe they could do a better job than most current politicians. However, when asked if they would ever consider running for national office, 87% of respondents said no.

North East

• The North East had amongst the lowest percentage of residents in the UK that felt well-informed about national politics at 55%.
• This region also shows a low appetite for discussing politics with friends and family, with 58% rarely engaging in political personal discussions.
• Additionally, respondents in the North East expressed amongst the greatest lack of trust in both Labour (63%) and Conservative party leaders’ (86%) understanding of local issues. This may explain why the region shows interest in running for local (11%) and national (7%) office.

North West

• In the North West over half of respondents (59%) said they felt well informed about national politics. This region also shows only 41% saying they engage in political discussions with friends and family.
• Additionally, nearly a third of respondents (28%) in the North West believe that Keir and the Labour Party understand local political issues, an improvement on how they feel about Rishi and the Conservative Party’s understanding (13%).

South East

• The South East is among the regions with the least confidence in Keir Starmer and the Labour Party’s understanding of local issues, with only 19% of respondents agreeing they understand these issues.
• However, that is still more trust than shown in Rishi and the Conservatives, with just over a tenth of respondents from the South East (12%) feeling that the party understands their local issues well. More locally, over a quarter of respondents in the South East have faith in their local representatives (29%).
• The majority of respondents from the South East (60%) said they felt well-informed about national politics and 43% say they regularly discuss politics with friends and family.
• Among locals there’s a strong sense they could do a better job than current politicians. A significant proportion (37%) of those in the South East believe they would be better MPs than the current politicians.

South West

• The South West is among the regions with the least confidence in Keir Starmer and the Labour Party’s understanding of local issues, with only 19% of respondents agreeing they understand these issues. However, that is still more trust than shown in Rishi and the Conservatives, with only 14% of respondents from the South West feeling that the party understands their local issues well.
• More locally, a third of respondents in the South West have faith in their local representatives (33%).
• Among locals there’s a strong sense they could do a better job than current politicians. A significant proportion (40%) of those in the South West believe they would be better MPs than the current politicians.

East of England

• In the East of England, a significant number of respondents (41%) believe they could personally do a better job than most current politicians. This region also shows amongst the greatest ambition to run for local office (13%), with 8% also considering running for national office.
• The majority of residents from the East of England (61%) said they felt well-informed about national politics and 41% often discuss politics with friends and family.
• Additionally, only a fifth of the people in the East of England believe that Keir and the Labour Party (20%) understand local political issues well, double of those that feel the same about Rishi and the Conservative Party (10%).

Wales

• In Wales, a significant 38% of respondents believe they could personally do a better job than most current politicians. This sentiment reflects a high level of political discontent and a desire for change.
• When it comes to understanding Welsh political issues, respondents in Wales have double the confidence in Keir Starmer and the Labour Party (24%) over Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party (12%).
• The majority of Welsh people feel well-informed about UK politics (61%) and over a third (39%) feel well-informed about Welsh politics. 40% of Welsh people said they often discuss political issues with friends and family.

For more information on the survey findings in your area and further details on Times Radio’s Election Bus Tour please reach out to timesradio@mww.com