by Daniel Martin, Telegraph
Angela Rayner’s proposal would ‘set off a tinderbox’ under party’s working-class vote, says pollster
Angela Rayner’s proposal for an official definition of Islamophobia would hand Reform a 100-seat majority at the expense of Labour, a poll has found.
The Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a panel to draw up a new definition to be applied across the public sector, despite fears it will prevent politicians speaking up about Asian grooming gangs.
Now a survey of 2,000 people has found that Labour polls significantly worse among voters who are told about the Islamophobia plan.
Before voters were told about the proposal, Reform polled 29 per cent, Labour 23 per cent, Conservatives 17 per cent, and the Liberal Democrats 14 per cent.
But when the people polled were asked how they would vote if Labour brought in a definition of Islamophobia, Reform rose by one point to 30 per cent and Labour fell three points to 20 per cent.
If replicated at a general election, that would be the difference between a Reform majority of 20 without the Islamophobia definition, and 106 if it were brought in.
Bringing in the definition would cause a loss of one million votes to Labour, and a fall in its seats in the Commons from 155 to 103.
Our free speech is under attack by Nick Timothy MP
“Islamophobia”: How the British State Manufactures a Crisis and Fuels Division by Maryam Gholami