New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
25 September 2013

The polling that explains Miliband’s energy price cap

Voters rate action to reduce household bills above tax cuts, wage rises, more affordable housing and more affordable childcare.

By George Eaton

Labour knew that Ed Miliband’s speech needed to contain an emblematic policy that would clearly show how the party intends to tackle the “cost of living crisis”, but why did it choose to make a cap on energy prices the centrepiece? Simple; polls consistently showed that rising gas and electricity prices were voters’ number one concern.

The graph below, cited by the Resolution Foundation’s James Plunkett, is a particularly striking example. Voters rate action to reduce household bills above tax cuts, wage rises, welfare reform, job creation, more affordable housing and more affordable childcare.

As for the policy itself, one senior Labour strategist told me after the speech that focus group approval was “off the scale”. It’s this that explains why, in taking on the energy companies, Miliband is so confident that he has picked the right battle.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The road to clean power 2030
Why Rachel Reeves needs to focus on food in schools
No health, no growth