The Women Problem

Mumsnet, the UK’s largest website for parents, and Ipsos have published ‘The Women Problem’, an in-depth study into women voters and who’s winning the battle for their vote.

The report uses Ipsos polling data available in August 2013, and qualitative work with focus groups comprising a diverse range of Mumsnet users.

The report shines a light on women’s opinions of the current political leaders, their shortfalls and strengths and the challenges they face if they are to win support in the run up to the 2015 election.

Key findings include:

• The Conservatives are trailing the opposition by 13 points among female voters – three times the amount they trail among men (four points).
• 42% of women would back Labour, compared to just 29% who would vote Conservative. While the Conservative share among men (31%) is similar to that among women, men are less likely than women to back Labour (35%).
• David Cameron is described as the most out of touch leader by 46% of women (13% say Ed Miliband and 9% say Nick Clegg)
• A third of women (33%) are ‘satisfied’ with David Cameron’s performance, the same as are satisfied with Ed Miliband.
• Women are more likely to ‘like’ David Cameron (43%) than Ed Miliband (34%)
• Six out of ten women who backed the Lib Dems in 2010 say they are no longer supporters
• No more than half of women believe any of the three main party leaders are interested in the concerns and opinions of women.