Just five per cent of Birmingham residents likely or very likely to vote Labour in next year’s local elections

New polling shows Labour is set to lose Birmingham council at next year’s local elections due to its handling of the bin strike and its attempts to force ruinous pay cuts of up to £8,000 on refuse workers.

The independent survey of 900 residents by Find Out Now found that just five per cent were likely or very likely to vote Labour.

Nearly half (47 per cent) were very unlikely to vote Labour and 12 per cent were unlikely to vote Labour (see notes to editors for full polling breakdown).

The survey, which was weighted for representation, also asked residents if the council’s handling of the bin strike made them more or less likely to vote Labour in the next local elections.

Over half (56 per cent) were less likely to vote Labour, with just four per cent more likely.

Asked how they felt about council leader John Cotton not attending any of the negotiations to end the bin strikes, 62 per cent disapproved with just three per cent approving.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is little wonder that workers in Birmingham are now turning away from Labour in droves, with a Labour council leader and a Labour government expecting bin workers to take a pay cuts of up to £8,000. For many this means that their homes are at risk.

“It is clear that the residents of Birmingham have not been swallowing the lines put out about these workers and instead are rightly putting the blame for this dispute squarely at the door of the Labour council and the Labour government.

“The shambles now unravelling at Birmingham Council is due to bad decision after bad decision made by politicians. It should not be up to hard working bin workers to pay for that. Unite will not stand by and let workers be treated in this way.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Birmingham bin strike could last until December as workers vote for further industrial action

Polling questions and results

Thinking ahead to next year's local elections how likely are you to vote for the incumbent Labour council? Very likely: 2 per cent. Likely: 3 per cent. Neutral: 12 per cent. Unlikely: 12 per cent. Very unlikely: 47 per cent. Don’t know: 25 per cent.

Has the council's handling of the bin strike made you more or less likely to vote Labour in the local elections next year? More likely: 4 per cent. Neutral: 19 per cent. Less likely: 56 per cent. Don’t know: 21 per cent.

How do you feel about the fact that council leader John Cotton has not been involved in any of the negotiations to end the bin strike? Approve: 3 per cent. Disapprove: 62 per cent. Don’t know: 35 per cent.

The Find Out Now survey took place between 3 and 9 June with a sample size of 914 Greater Birmingham residents, filtered to be regionally representative by gender, age, 2024 general election vote and Greater Birmingham borough.

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.