Labor's chief pollster says he was blocked from directly briefing party leader Bill Shorten in the lead-up to this year's federal election and never given a chance to present troubling research findings to the peak group that met each morning to manage the campaign.

In a secret report on the Labor polling, submitted to the party's election review, YouGov director Campbell White also rebukes the party headquarters for mishandling the "detailed" and "extensive" research it was given during the campaign.

Bill Shorten, with wife Chloe, concedes election defeat on May 18. Credit:Alex Ellilnghausen

The submission, seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, includes compelling evidence of the swings against Labor from voters on lower incomes and those without tertiary education, as well as significant swings towards Labor in areas with higher education levels on average.

It also reveals confidential findings on Mr Shorten's approval ratings with voters and the impact this had on the election result.