The Green Party is reportedly just four points behind Labour in urban constituencies, according to new polling conducted by ThinkLabour, a thinktank with links to Andy Burnham's government. This positioning could enable the Greens to secure up to 40 seats if these results were replicated in a future general election.
The survey indicates a significant shift of urban voters towards Zack Polanski's party since the 2024 general election. This research highlights a challenge for Labour in retaining seats such as Holborn and St Pancras, where Polanski himself is contesting a byelection next month.
The report's authors suggest that Labour politicians should avoid direct attacks on the Greens, as previous electoral battles indicate this approach can be counterproductive among progressive voters. Christabel Cooper, a co-author, noted that the previous administration under Keir Starmer had relied on voters fearing a Nigel Farage premiership, but this argument may no longer be effective in the 40 identified seats.
The poll also reveals that Green support in major cities has increased by 12 points since the general election, while Labour's vote share has decreased by 20 points. The shift away from Labour to the Greens was found to be more pronounced among financially struggling voters, challenging the perception of Green voters as primarily affluent liberals.