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Battleground Britain: Labour wins back voters in South Thanet but not Glasgow Battleground Britain: Labour wins back voters in South Thanet but not Glasgow
(about 4 hours later)
South Thanet: ‘Backbiting, snarling and nasty personal attacks’South Thanet: ‘Backbiting, snarling and nasty personal attacks’
A vague nod of approval for Labour’s plans to scrap non-dom tax status, relaxed contentment among would-be Ukip voters about Nigel Farage’s performance in the leaders’ debates … plus kudos for Ed Miliband who, in the words of one voter, “finally grew some balls”.A vague nod of approval for Labour’s plans to scrap non-dom tax status, relaxed contentment among would-be Ukip voters about Nigel Farage’s performance in the leaders’ debates … plus kudos for Ed Miliband who, in the words of one voter, “finally grew some balls”.
That was some of the sentiment from the latest focus group gathered for the Guardian in the seat of South Thanet, where the Ukip leader is engaged in what some commentators view as a three-way dogfight with Labour and the Conservatives.That was some of the sentiment from the latest focus group gathered for the Guardian in the seat of South Thanet, where the Ukip leader is engaged in what some commentators view as a three-way dogfight with Labour and the Conservatives.
Labour’s proposals to abolish the non-domtax status appears to have gone some way towards energising core supporters.Labour’s proposals to abolish the non-domtax status appears to have gone some way towards energising core supporters.
Christine, a retired clinical analyst who said that she had been angry with the party for not being more passionate, was particularly impressed, adding: “I think it made me feel more positive towards [the party] because it made me feel they would do something about the rich and tax avoidance.”Christine, a retired clinical analyst who said that she had been angry with the party for not being more passionate, was particularly impressed, adding: “I think it made me feel more positive towards [the party] because it made me feel they would do something about the rich and tax avoidance.”
Encouraging too for Labour was that the Conservative bid to put a spoke in their opponents wheels by resurrecting comments made by Ed Balls on non-doms doesn’t appear to have made it through to the radar of this group of voters at least.Encouraging too for Labour was that the Conservative bid to put a spoke in their opponents wheels by resurrecting comments made by Ed Balls on non-doms doesn’t appear to have made it through to the radar of this group of voters at least.
Also noticed by some was the reappearance of Tony Blair on the Labour stump, a move that drew approval from a number of panellists, who were also quite adamant that they had little or no time for him when he was the party’s leader.Also noticed by some was the reappearance of Tony Blair on the Labour stump, a move that drew approval from a number of panellists, who were also quite adamant that they had little or no time for him when he was the party’s leader.
“I was never a big fan of Tony Blair, he led a Labour party that I didn’t really identify with, but I think what he said about Europe, whether you agree with it or not, he actually raised people’s eyes a bit, that there’s a principle involved,” said Chris, a retired headteacher.“I was never a big fan of Tony Blair, he led a Labour party that I didn’t really identify with, but I think what he said about Europe, whether you agree with it or not, he actually raised people’s eyes a bit, that there’s a principle involved,” said Chris, a retired headteacher.
A number of others in the focus group (one of five organised by the qualitative polling firm BritainThinks) appeared impressed with Ed Miliband’s performance in the leaders’ debates, including James, a Ukip voter, who said: “Before I was Ukip and then Conservative, but Cameron has just kept his game the same, so now I’d be Ukip and then Ed Miliband.”A number of others in the focus group (one of five organised by the qualitative polling firm BritainThinks) appeared impressed with Ed Miliband’s performance in the leaders’ debates, including James, a Ukip voter, who said: “Before I was Ukip and then Conservative, but Cameron has just kept his game the same, so now I’d be Ukip and then Ed Miliband.”
Kim, a student, was impressed with “the balls he has grown suddenly”, adding: “I believe he stands more of a chance now from that debate, particularly after the way he stood up to Cameron.”Kim, a student, was impressed with “the balls he has grown suddenly”, adding: “I believe he stands more of a chance now from that debate, particularly after the way he stood up to Cameron.”
Some changes then, though nothing particularly seismic. Indeed, no member of the group had heard anything that was likely to switch their voting intentions, though one bemoaned the appearance in the campaign of “backbiting and snarling and quite nasty personal attacks”.Some changes then, though nothing particularly seismic. Indeed, no member of the group had heard anything that was likely to switch their voting intentions, though one bemoaned the appearance in the campaign of “backbiting and snarling and quite nasty personal attacks”.
And at least half of the group – including some leaning towards Labour – now expected Nigel Farage to win the seat, although none that heard about a recent poll suggesting that he was in second place behind the Tory candidate, Craig Mackinlay.And at least half of the group – including some leaning towards Labour – now expected Nigel Farage to win the seat, although none that heard about a recent poll suggesting that he was in second place behind the Tory candidate, Craig Mackinlay.
Glasgow East: ‘Before it didn’t matter … but this time it’s about us’Glasgow East: ‘Before it didn’t matter … but this time it’s about us’
Voters in the key Labour-SNP battleground of Glasgow East are swinging firmly behind the Scottish National party, not because they want independence but because, in the words of one: “It’s a strong voice for Scotland.”Voters in the key Labour-SNP battleground of Glasgow East are swinging firmly behind the Scottish National party, not because they want independence but because, in the words of one: “It’s a strong voice for Scotland.”
For the focus group of undecided Glasgow East voters gathered by BritainThinks, the prospect of Scotland winning a strong voice, with real influence at Westminster, is now a defining issue. “Before it didn’t matter which way we voted, but this time it’s about us,” said Anne-Marie.For the focus group of undecided Glasgow East voters gathered by BritainThinks, the prospect of Scotland winning a strong voice, with real influence at Westminster, is now a defining issue. “Before it didn’t matter which way we voted, but this time it’s about us,” said Anne-Marie.
After watching three televised leaders debates – one for seven UK leaders and two in Scotland, the evidence from the Guardian’s focus group is that Labour’s concerted efforts to win back their erstwhile supporters are failing. Only one issue is getting traction: the risks of a large SNP vote allowing in a Tory government is unnerving for several panellists and may lead them to vote Labour.After watching three televised leaders debates – one for seven UK leaders and two in Scotland, the evidence from the Guardian’s focus group is that Labour’s concerted efforts to win back their erstwhile supporters are failing. Only one issue is getting traction: the risks of a large SNP vote allowing in a Tory government is unnerving for several panellists and may lead them to vote Labour.
Many of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon’s central messages are now embedded in the panels’ thinking: tackling austerity by increasing public spending; keeping Labour honest in an alliance with the SNP and pressing Scotland’s cause in London, and a sense too, that she is the victim of dirty tricks.Many of SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon’s central messages are now embedded in the panels’ thinking: tackling austerity by increasing public spending; keeping Labour honest in an alliance with the SNP and pressing Scotland’s cause in London, and a sense too, that she is the victim of dirty tricks.
The leak to the pro-Tory Daily Telegraph last week of a Scotland Office memo alleging Sturgeon secretly wants Cameron to win on 7 May confirmed their belief that the UK’s political establishment is unnerved by her popularity and potential.The leak to the pro-Tory Daily Telegraph last week of a Scotland Office memo alleging Sturgeon secretly wants Cameron to win on 7 May confirmed their belief that the UK’s political establishment is unnerved by her popularity and potential.
And the panellists appear unanimous in their admiration for Sturgeon. All three female leaders in the first UK debate – Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett of the Greens and the Welsh nationalist leader Leanne Wood – came out well.And the panellists appear unanimous in their admiration for Sturgeon. All three female leaders in the first UK debate – Sturgeon, Natalie Bennett of the Greens and the Welsh nationalist leader Leanne Wood – came out well.
Kathy, who runs a party decorations business, said: “I didn’t think she would do so well. [I] was very impressed [with her] saying ‘I’m here for Scotland’.”Kathy, who runs a party decorations business, said: “I didn’t think she would do so well. [I] was very impressed [with her] saying ‘I’m here for Scotland’.”
Key Labour taxation policies are failing to impress, and neither does Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour leader. While some applauded Ed Miliband’s stout performance in his head-to-head joint Channel 4/Sky interview with Jeremy Paxman, many panellists find Murphy’s manner, at times flippant and jokey, off-putting and at times condescending.Key Labour taxation policies are failing to impress, and neither does Jim Murphy, the Scottish Labour leader. While some applauded Ed Miliband’s stout performance in his head-to-head joint Channel 4/Sky interview with Jeremy Paxman, many panellists find Murphy’s manner, at times flippant and jokey, off-putting and at times condescending.
The prospects of a further vote on independence was seen as irrelevant: “The referendum isn’t part of this election,” said Harry Anderson, 68. The prospects of a further vote on independence was seen as irrelevant: “The referendum isn’t part of this election,” said Harry, 68.
But one negative Labour argument is hitting home: the threat that failing to vote Labour increases the chances of a second Tory government taking power.But one negative Labour argument is hitting home: the threat that failing to vote Labour increases the chances of a second Tory government taking power.
Anne-Marie was sympathetic: “My fear is that we’re splitting the vote, so if we split the vote, the Conservatives get back in, and that’s the worst fear.”Anne-Marie was sympathetic: “My fear is that we’re splitting the vote, so if we split the vote, the Conservatives get back in, and that’s the worst fear.”
* Surnames of panellists have been withheld to ensure they are not deliberately targeted by canvassing or on social media during the campaign.* Surnames of panellists have been withheld to ensure they are not deliberately targeted by canvassing or on social media during the campaign.