Both UK businesses (79%) and the wider public (70%) think people will likely never return to offices at the same rate as before the pandemic - but what do they think this means for the workforce? 🧵
Whilst they expect young people’s careers may suffer for working from home, the majority of both UK businesses (65%) and the wider public (56%) think it will help advance women’s careers, as childcare and caring duties become less of a hindrance
The majority of both businesses (64%) and the wider pubic (56%) also think that home working will level the playing field between workers, by being more accommodating to people with mental health issues or disabilities
It is a minority opinion that people working from home are being lazy.
59% of business leaders think it’s unlikely those working from home will be less productive than people going into work. And by 50% to 35% this is also the view of the wider public
18% of Britons say they are likely to consider voting for a new left-wing party led by Jeremy Corbyn
However, this is less than would consider voting for the existing major parties and has caveats... 🧵
Just 32% of those who would consider voting for a Corbyn-led party say it is the party they are most likely to consider voting for, including only 9% saying it is the only party they would consider voting for (of the main national parties)
Top 5 reasons that 26% of 2024 Conservatives have defected to Reform UK in the year since the 2024 election
1. Trust them more on immigration: 56% 2. All other parties are worse: 41% 3. Better at standing up for people like me: 36% 4. Closer to my values: 25% 5. Better placed to win next election: 24%
Compared to those sticking with the party, Conservative defectors to Reform UK are more likely to be men (58% vs 44%), more likely to have voted Leave (80% vs 61%) and are older (83% are over 50 vs 75%)
While Conservative losses to Reform UK are more likely than loyalists to see immigration as a top issue facing the country (88% vs 64%), the two groups do not otherwise differ hugely on what are currently the most pressing problems in the UK