While the political response has become the most important issue for people in our six key constituencies, views differ on which party they trust to tackle it

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The London Bridge attack has put issues of security and counter-terrorism at the top of some voters’ election concerns, according to focus group work carried out for the Guardian, although the issue does not seem to be favouring either major party.

Comments from undecided voters in six key constituencies following the attack which killed seven people on Saturday night are notably different to those after the Manchester bombing, according to BritainThinks, which has been carrying out the work with the Guardian.

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Tom Clarkson, the associate director of BritainThinks, said a number of those asked on Sunday what the most important issues would be affecting their vote pointed to security.

“While the Manchester Arena attack prompted an outpouring of shock and disgust among the swing voters participating in the research, Saturday night’s terrible events have prompted far more comments around the political response to the threat of terrorism,” he said.



“Many swing voters have suggested that security and terrorism are now the most important issue determining how they will vote on Thursday – and there now appears a greater belief that this is an ongoing challenge for the country, rather than just a terrible one-off event.”

However, the voters had differing views on which party would deal with the issue better, with some saying they felt the Conservatives were stronger on security and others arguing that Theresa May had failed as home secretary and then prime minister.

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Clarkson said: “Saturday’s events appear to be confirming swing voters’ existing viewpoints regarding the party that they were leaning towards as a result of the campaign.”

Below is a selection of some of the focus group responses given on Sunday.



Steve, a voter in the Birmingham Erdington constituency

I now think after the events over the past two weeks tackling extremism now must be a top priority.

Nathan, Birmingham Erdington



I prefer Labour policies over Tory policies and now with the growing threat of terrorism I feel the Tory approach will make the situation worse. Not accepting British foreign policy has a link to terrorism we now face is stupid, and attacking Corbyn for suggesting it was a bad decision. If we are to ever overcome terrorism we must go to the root cause which seems to lie in the Middle Eastern countries that Britain and the allied forces have ‘intervened’ in.

Paul, Hartlepool

[I will vote for the] Conservatives. The unfortunate terror attacks over the past few weeks make it all the more important to elect a strong leader who is willing to fight for our country and way of life.

Sade, Cambridge

We live in a time of great uncertainty and an ever present fear of a terror attack. The Conservatives have had several years to implement their policies and yet terror suspects are still allowed to travel to high-risk countries and return to the UK unchecked. Also our current strategies aren’t deterring or indeed preventing radicalisation.

Stephanie, Hartlepool

The policies on immigration is my key concern at this point. Three terrorist attacks in three months is more than enough to prompt some major change.



Andrew, Birmingham Erdington