New polling suggests Britons living in rural areas are more likely to vote Labour over the Tories at the next election.
In a huge swing to the left in contrast to traditional Conservative support, the latest survey found that 34 per cent of people in villages or rural areas would back Sir Keir Starmer’s party.
Labour has vowed to “park our tanks on the Tories’ fields” in an attempted to grab the rural vote.
The poll result has sparked a warning for the Tory party that “a Portillo moment is possible anywhere.”
New polling suggests Britons living in rural areas are more likely to vote Labour over the Tories at the next election
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The survey puts Starmer’s party four points ahead in the countryside.
Labour won a majority of rural seats in Parliament in 1997 and 2001 – however, the party gradually lost support.
But going forward, Labour has pledged to treat them “with respect” after admitting they had become “too detached” from rural voters.
Steve Reed, the new shadow environment secretary, is leading the charge and has vowed to crack down on sewage spills and flood risks, as well as crimes such as fly-tipping and vandalism.
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“We plan to park our tanks on the Tories’ fields. For too long rural communities have been overlooked and allowed to slide into decline under the Conservatives,” a Labour source told The Telegraph.
“Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour now has a respectful attitude towards our rural communities. The countryside is at the heart of our plans for a decade of national renewal.”
The poll by Labour Together surveyed 5,000 people between Oct 27 and Nov 1.
In his promise to rural voters, Reed said the party will deliver “the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to the British people in all parts of the country”, as Labour wants “rural communities to control their own futures.”
The poll result has sparked a warning for the Tory party that ‘a Portillo moment is possible anywhere’
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Josh Williams, the director of strategy at Labour Together, said: “The established wisdom has long been that the Liberal Democrats compete with the Conservatives in the countryside and Labour does everywhere else.
“This polling shows that Labour is now leading in rural areas, far beyond its traditional heartlands. More Tory seats are now at risk from Labour than at any time in 20 years.
“A Portillo moment is possible anywhere. No Tory MP should consider their seat safe.”
