Pollsters Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now have conducted a poll focusing on those people who voted Labour in 2024, but who don't plan to vote Labour currently. We asked people what reasons they had for leaving Labour. And we gave them a chance to answer in their own words, as well as using traditional multiple-choice questions.
The main findings from the poll are:
Fieldwork was conducted from 3−6 June 2025, with a sample size of 811 people.
We asked people to choose from a list of possible reasons, to explain why they are not planning to vote Labour again. They could choose up to three options. The table shows the results, including breakdowns by people's new voting intention. This question was asked to people who had switched to a different party.
| Reason | All defectors | Defectors to Con/Reform | Defectors to Lib/Green |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of touch | 44% | 37% | 41% |
| Not Labour enough | 41% | 15% | 54% |
| Don't like Keir Starmer as PM | 32% | 30% | 32% |
| Failure to control immigration | 30% | 62% | 15% |
| Bad economic management | 30% | 35% | 28% |
| Lack of clear vision | 29% | 26% | 28% |
| National Health Service problems | 17% | 18% | 16% |
| Weak | 14% | 20% | 11% |
| Too left-wing | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Don't know | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Table 1: Reasons given by Labour switchers, and broken down by current voting intention.
The most common reason given by respondents was that Labour is "Out of touch" (44pc). Close behind was the view that the party is "not Labour enough" (41pc), suggesting many voters feel Labour has moved away from its traditional values. In third place was a dislike of Keir Starmer as PM, (32pc).
Among defectors to centre-left parties, "Not Labour enough" was the main driver, with over half of those respondents mentioning that. They also cited the party being "Out of touch" (41pc).
By contrast, immigration was the dominant issue for those switching to the Conservatives and Reform UK, with 62pc citing it as their primary reason. "Out of touch" (37pc) and "Bad economic management" (35pc) were also significant among this group.
We also asked people who had voted Labour in 2024, but were not likely to vote at the next election. They could chose from a different set of possible reasons to explain why. Again they could choose up to three responses.
| Reason | All non-voters | England North | England South |
|---|---|---|---|
| I don't know what the parties stand for any more | 31% | 41% | 23% |
| Politicians are mostly incompetent | 24% | 28% | 21% |
| Political parties are out of touch | 23% | 29% | 17% |
| I don't trust my preferred party to do the right thing | 17% | 16% | 17% |
| Voting doesn't change anything | 17% | 20% | 15% |
| No party shares my values | 10% | 4% | 15% |
| Don't like Keir Starmer as PM | 10% | 17% | 7% |
| Don't know | 28% | 22% | 35% |
Table 2: Reasons given by ex-Labour non-voters, and broken down by geography.
The top three reasons cited by former Labour voters who are unlikely to vote at the next general election were, "I don't know what the parties stand for any more" (31pc), "Politicians are mostly incompetent" (24pc) and "Political parties are out of touch" (23pc).
Voters in the north of England were more certain in their dislike of the parties, and less likely to answer "Don't know" than voters in the south of England.
We also asked people for the reasons for their defection in their own words. Switchers to another party were asked "In your own words, what is your main reason for your choice not to vote Labour?". Non-voters were asked "In your own words, what is your main reason why you might not vote at the next general election?".
We then grouped their comments into topics or themes. The top ten themes are:
| Rank | All Defectors | Defectors to Con/Reform | Defectors to Lib/Green | Won't vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Untrustworthy | Immigration | Not Labour enough | Untrustworthy |
| 2 | Not Labour enough | Liars | Too right wing | Disillusioned |
| 3 | Too right wing | Broken promises | Same as the Tories | Liars |
| 4 | Broken promises | Untrustworthy | Failure to deliver | Broken promises |
| 5 | Same as the Tories | Keir Starmer | Disabled benefits | Not Labour enough |
| 6 | Failure to deliver | No help for ordinary people | Broken promises | Waste of time |
| 7 | Liars | Pensioners | Lack of clear vision | Self serving |
| 8 | Disillusioned | Disabled benefits | Winter Fuel payment | Too right wing |
| 9 | Disabled benefits | Not Labour enough | Keir Starmer | No real choice |
| 10 | Immigration | Same as the Tories | Pensioners | Same as the Tories |
Table 3: Reasons given by ex-Labour non-voters in their own words, and broken down by current voting intention.
Three key themes emerged across all types of defectors: "Not Labour enough", "Broken promises", and "Same as the Tories". These are strong criticisms that cut to the core of Labour's credibility, and many respondents expressed them in even stronger, more emotive terms.
Other recurring themes were:
In their own words, here are some direct quotes from our respondents which represent some of the most frequently-mentioned themes:
"TRAITORS! I voted Labour because I wanted a return to old Labour values; looking after the working class, the sick, the elderly and investment in supporting the services that protect the people."
"They need to do more to stop illegal immigration and remove all illegal immigrants from this country"
"Have moved too far right, trying to be just "not quite as bad" as Conservatives or Reform, rather than an actual alternative."
"Nobody is worthy of my vote - they've all shown how misleading and untrustworthy they are with their promises when canvassing."
"They lied to get elected. They attacked the weak and vulnerable, the poorest and pensioners. They've made a mess of everything they've touched and blamed it on the Conservatives…"
"I just don't like the way they have handled the benefit reforms. it's a poor choice to target the disabled and the vulnerable and I don't think they fully understand the struggles of the average person in society nor those living in poverty or facing adversity, but to be honest, I'm not sure many in politics do."
"Labour are supposed to be left wing, not Tories with red ties."
We also made a word cloud of the textual responses.
Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, said: "The Labour Party is facing a crisis of identity, as many feel the party has abandoned its foundational principles. Broken promises and policy U-turns that increasingly blur the distinction between Labour and the Conservatives have undermined public trust. These concerns are far from superficial, they strike at the heart of Labour's support and its connection with voters."
Tyron Surmon, Head of Research at Find Out Now said: "There is no easy way forward for Labour. Those who have defected to other left-wing parties say the party is "Not Labour enough", while the smaller - but significant - group who have defected to the right blame "failure to control immigration". Their attempts to keep both groups on side helps explain much of their last year in Government."
Find Out Now polled 811 GB adults online between 3-6 June 2025, of those who voted Labour in 2024, and plan not to vote Labour at the moment. The sample was weighted to be representative by gender, age, social grade, other demographics and past voting patterns.
Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus are both members of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules.
Data tables are available here.
Electoral Calculus is a pollster and political consultancy specialising in quantitative analysis and modelling for electoral and other market research projects. It was founded by Martin Baxter, its CEO.
Electoral Calculus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules and is a company partner of the Market Research Society.
Find Out Now is a polling and market research panel with 2.8 million members. Highly profiled respondents can be targeted instantly, with over 100,000 daily responses allowing the delivery of same-day nationally representative sampling.
Find Out Now are members of the British Polling Council and Market Research Society, and abide by their rules.