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Third of women voters undecided, suggests TNS/BBC poll | Third of women voters undecided, suggests TNS/BBC poll |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than a third of women are yet to decide who to vote for at the UK general election, a TNS poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour has suggested. | More than a third of women are yet to decide who to vote for at the UK general election, a TNS poll for BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour has suggested. |
Of those surveyed, 35% said they did not know who to cast their ballot for - compared with 25% of men. | Of those surveyed, 35% said they did not know who to cast their ballot for - compared with 25% of men. |
The poll also found the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were of greatest concern for women. | The poll also found the NHS, living costs and the cost of caring for family were of greatest concern for women. |
And about half said they did not believe that party leaders understood what life was like for their families. | And about half said they did not believe that party leaders understood what life was like for their families. |
The telephone poll interviewed a representative sample of 975 adults in Great Britain between 23 and 26 January 2015. | The telephone poll interviewed a representative sample of 975 adults in Great Britain between 23 and 26 January 2015. |
Future leaders | Future leaders |
The findings suggest there is a great deal at stake for the parties in their battle to win over female support ahead of the UK-wide poll on 7 May. | |
Almost half of all women with children - 48% - said they did not vote in the 2010 general election, while a third of women without children claimed they did not cast their ballot, according to the research. | Almost half of all women with children - 48% - said they did not vote in the 2010 general election, while a third of women without children claimed they did not cast their ballot, according to the research. |
The NHS topped the poll as the issue of greatest concern at the election - chosen by 59% of women, compared with 50% of men. | The NHS topped the poll as the issue of greatest concern at the election - chosen by 59% of women, compared with 50% of men. |
While the cost of living was picked as the second most important issue for both men and women, 30% of women polled identified the cost of caring for their family as the next biggest worry - for men it was immigration. | While the cost of living was picked as the second most important issue for both men and women, 30% of women polled identified the cost of caring for their family as the next biggest worry - for men it was immigration. |
A total of 31% of male respondents were concerned about the economy, including the deficit and unemployment, compared with 21% of women. | A total of 31% of male respondents were concerned about the economy, including the deficit and unemployment, compared with 21% of women. |
Asked to say which party best understands the issues faced by families, 20% of respondents choosing Labour compared to 16% for the Conservatives. | Asked to say which party best understands the issues faced by families, 20% of respondents choosing Labour compared to 16% for the Conservatives. |
However, there was less good news for the leaders of the main parties, with 48% of women polled saying they did not feel the leaders understood what life was really like for families, compared with 41% of men. | However, there was less good news for the leaders of the main parties, with 48% of women polled saying they did not feel the leaders understood what life was really like for families, compared with 41% of men. |
Just 10% of female respondents believed David Cameron best understood their daily lives, while 12% of women said the same about Ed Miliband. | Just 10% of female respondents believed David Cameron best understood their daily lives, while 12% of women said the same about Ed Miliband. |
According to the poll, 44% of voters overall said they thought Home Secretary Theresa May would perform well as Conservative leader. Labour's shadow home affairs spokeswoman Yvette Cooper polled less favourably as a future leader on 38%. | According to the poll, 44% of voters overall said they thought Home Secretary Theresa May would perform well as Conservative leader. Labour's shadow home affairs spokeswoman Yvette Cooper polled less favourably as a future leader on 38%. |
For both Mrs may and Ms Cooper, more men than women thought they would perform badly as their respective party leaders. | For both Mrs may and Ms Cooper, more men than women thought they would perform badly as their respective party leaders. |
Commenting on the poll's findings, Woman's Hour editor Alice Feinsten said the results offered "a real insight into the issues that women care most about". | Commenting on the poll's findings, Woman's Hour editor Alice Feinsten said the results offered "a real insight into the issues that women care most about". |
"As we approach the general election, Woman's Hour expects to be interviewing party leaders and asking them what they are doing to address the concerns of women voters," she said. | "As we approach the general election, Woman's Hour expects to be interviewing party leaders and asking them what they are doing to address the concerns of women voters," she said. |
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