New polling has revealed a stark disconnect between Labour MPs and the British public over the government's handling of the cost of living crisis. A survey of 110 Labour MPs by YouGov, commissioned by the Cost of Living Action (COLA) group, found that 82 per cent believe the government is doing well on the issue. In contrast, 80 per cent of the public think the government is performing badly.
The findings come amid record losses for Labour in local elections, with the party losing the most seats in a single election in English history and losing control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time since 1999. Experts attribute this to severe public dissatisfaction with the government's economic approach.
Conor O'Shea, coordinator of COLA, said the survey highlights a 'stark political reality' and that 'the public expects more on the cost of living'. He added: 'MPs clearly know that this is a critical issue, but their perception of how effectively the government is tackling it is massively out of step with public opinion.'
The research also found that 80 per cent of Labour MPs support a windfall tax on energy companies, and 66 per cent back subsidised energy bills for all with targeted support for those with higher needs. These figures are broadly in line with public opinion, which stands at 69 per cent and 60 per cent respectively.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to retain a focus on tackling the cost of living in 2026, amid global economic pressures from the US-Iran war. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has promised targeted energy bill support based on household income, but stopped short of universal measures. A Treasury spokesperson said the government is supporting families 'in a responsible way' through measures including a £117 reduction in energy bills and an increase in the national living wage.
