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Polls show that many voters in Britain’s most rural constituencies are concerned about climate change and support net zero and local renewables.
The poll, for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Union (ECIU) think tank, supports other polls showing Labor ahead of the Tories in traditional heartlands with 35 per cent of the vote.
This is down from 50 per cent in 2019, compared to 30 per cent for the Conservatives.
And it found that more than half (58 per cent) of voters in rural areas support new onshore wind in their local area, while 64 per cent support a solar farm, with higher levels of support among those switching from the Conservatives to Labour. .
But a survey of more than 2,000 people by More in Common found that those in the 30 most “highly rural” constituencies in England, Wales and Scotland think both main party leaders should show more respect for communities like them.
The poll polled people in seats including Rishi Sunak’s Richmond and Northallerton constituencies, former prime minister Liz Truss’ South West Norfolk seat and former Lib Dem leader Tim Farrow’s Westmoeland and Lonsdale.
It revealed that rural voters are more concerned about climate change and support net zero – the aim to end the UK’s contribution to global warming by reducing emissions to zero by 2050 – than the country as a whole.
Tory-to-Labor voters were more likely to support climate action – although fewer left the Conservatives in favor of British Reform.
Around three-quarters (73 per cent) of voters in rural areas are most concerned about climate change, with 70 per cent of people nationwide and 68 per cent in rural areas backing the UK’s net zero target. in a survey representative of the country as a whole.
Conservative voters who plan to support Labor in this election in 2019 are even more concerned about climate change (81 per cent) and more than three-quarters (77 per cent) support net zero.
Only 47 percent of reformers were concerned about climate change, while 44 percent supported net zero.
Rural communities have noticed the effects of climate change in their local area, with two-thirds (66 percent) seeing more frequent or severe flooding, and more than half (55 percent) experiencing crop damage from extreme weather.
The survey also found that more than three-quarters (78 per cent) would like to see government schemes to help farmers switch to eco-friendly practices – significantly higher than 59 per cent in the national sample.
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of rural voters supported turning some farmland into nature reserves or forested areas to protect wildlife from flooding caused by climate change, and 60 percent supported such a move to protect people.
Eight in 10 people polled thought farmers should grow food sustainably to increase wildlife and reduce pollution, compared with one in 10 who thought they should grow food as cheaply as possible, even if it means food becomes more expensive.
It makes perfect sense that voters in most rural areas would show high levels of support for net zero when they first see the impacts of climate change on agriculture and wildlife.
Tom Lancaster, ECIU
The poll also had a caveat for party leaders, with only 21 per cent thinking Rishi Sunak “respects communities like mine”, while 56 per cent thought he did not.
Meanwhile, just over a quarter (26 per cent) thought Sir Keir Starmer respected communities like theirs, while 41 per cent did not.
Tom Lancaster, land, food and agriculture analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “It makes perfect sense that voters in most rural areas would show high levels of support for net zero when they first see the effects of climate change. of agriculture and wildlife and is often at higher risk of flooding.
“Sometimes characterized as less of a concern about climate change, this survey actually shows that rural residents see it as a major concern.
“Rather than being ‘blockers’, rural voters show strong support for policies needed to combat climate change, such as more funding for greener farming and renewable energy in their area.
“To win the respect of voters in these new constituencies, all political parties need a strong proposition on climate change and must be careful not to get on the wrong side of the debate with voters in these vital rural areas.” he said.