A separate poll of 1,000 former Conservative voters found that a third would be more likely to support the party again if it adopted more ambitious climate policies.
Divergent energy
However, despite the overall and overwhelming support for net zero, there is of course still some divergence among parties, and some hints of gaps emerging between MPs and the public (note: interpret with caution as the proportion of Conservative MPs is much lower in the new parliament, which affects sample sizes).
The majority of MPs think renewables are cheaper (61%) and better for the country’s energy security (77%) than coal, oil, and gas. But this includes only 22% of Conservative MPs who think that renewables are cheaper, and only 26% of Conservative MPs who think renewables are better for the country’s energy security – out of step with the rest of parliament, and the public (of whom 57% felt renewables were better for the country’s energy security).
When asked about the best way to ensure the UK’s energy security, there was an almost 30% point increase in MPs overall selecting “reduce our use of fossil fuels altogether and instead expand our use of renewable energy such as wind and solar”, compared to the previous parliament (76%). This figure matches the steady average of 60% of support from the public.
What do MPs need to know about voters’ views on climate?
In the wake of the 2024 General Election results, what do MPs need to bear in mind in terms of voters’ climate opinions?