General election 2019: More low-income voters set to wing election result, report finds Brexit is less important than the standards of living for low-income voters

More than a million low-income voters who sat out the 2017 election are expected to head to the polls, according to a new report.

Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) published ahead of the 12 December snap election found that voters who failed to vote in 2017 now intend to make their voices heard.

59 per cent of low-income voters who did not vote at the 2017 General Election now plan to vote, according to the poll of 10,000 low income voters carried out in August.

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The foundation told The Observer that 1.2 million extra low-income voters will turn out, and could become a “significant force” in dozens of fiercely contested seats.

While Labour may traditionally gain a boost between a boost from high turnout among working class voters, low income voters largely favour leaving the EU, and the report warns that “today they are less tribally loyal to one party.”

Distrust and cynicism

The foundation said that it found high levels of “distrust and cynicism” among the voter groups who “do not feel that current politicians are listening to them or acting on their concerns.”

JRF Executive Director Claire Ainsley said: “It’s great that at this general election there is such a focus on low income voters and whether they’re switching support between the parties.

“JRF research shows that the Labour Party is still ahead amongst low-income voters, but both the Brexit Party and the Liberal Democrats have got 15 per cent support each, so that shows us we’re not just talking about the traditional working class or leave voters.”

Living standards more important than Brexit

Only 20 per cent of low-income voters listed Brexit among the most important issues, compared to 50 per cent who said the cost of living, and 21 per cent who said housing.

Ainsley continued: “These voters are as divided as every other income group on what they think about Brexit. and Brexit is not the most important issue to these voters. They want action on living standards.

“If parties are series about appealing to low-income voters, then they need to have real plans to transform the places where people are living and put more money into working-age benefits so we have a social security system we can all rely on.”