{"id":145392,"date":"2025-11-18T07:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/?p=145392"},"modified":"2026-01-19T06:56:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T06:56:10","slug":"cost-of-living-is-top-priority-for-voters-ahead-of-autumn-budget-mega-poll-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/news\/2025\/11\/18\/cost-of-living-is-top-priority-for-voters-ahead-of-autumn-budget-mega-poll-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of living is top priority for voters ahead of autumn budget, mega poll finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The cost of living has been identified as the top priority for the government to address in the autumn budget. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new poll of over 7,400 people has found that 59% of voters are demanding action on the cost of living and the economy. This figure was higher than the number of voters who ranked immigration as a top priority (51%) and the NHS (45%). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MRP poll, conducted by Electoral Calculus on behalf of communications firm PLMR, also showed Reform UK as on track to secure 36% of the vote \u2013 placing them ahead of Labour at 21% and the Conservatives at just 15%. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This voting pattern would see Nigel Farage\u2019s party win 445 seats and a majority in the House of Commons. The Conservatives would fall to a historic low of just seven seats, placing them in fifth behind Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party (SNP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research also highlighted tactical voting trends that \u201ccould stop Farage in his tracks\u201d. PLMR and Electoral Calculus estimate that 78 seats could flip if voters opposed to Reform UK coordinate their votes to block the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the poll, over a third of Labour voters said \u201cthey would back the Tories to block Reform.\u201d It also found that Green and Your Party voters would “shift to vote Labour to avoid splitting the progressive vote.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Craig, founder and CEO of PLMR, described the poll as showing a \u201cremarkable fall from grace for the Conservative Party\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe electorate is demanding action on the economy first and foremost\u201d, Craig said. \u201cIt\u2019s time to forget the slogans and the clever language. Instead, the government must keep calm and focus on delivering more money into working people\u2019s pockets\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n