Lord Ashcroft: My latest focus groups “It wasn’t the original plan, was it, to be a load of failed Tories”
Why resist verification?
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
My latest focus groups took place among 2024 Tory-Labour switchers in Tamworth, Reform voters in Clacton, and Conservatives in Romford. The groups talked about local elections, social media, the fallout from the Mandelson saga, Reform’s new shadow cabinet, prospects for the Tories and what constitutes Peak Starmer.
“To stop us voting was the only way”
Our Essex participants were digesting the day’s news that their local elections were back on following the government’s latest reversal. They were sceptical, to say the least, about the reasons given for cancelling the elections in the first place: “They were supposedly moving borders around. Personally, I think it was because Labour knew they were going to lose a lot of areas, so to stop us voting was the only way;” with all the changes that happen in politics over the years, “I’ve never known elections to be cancelled like that.” Nor did they give ministers any praise for seeing the light: “They thought they were going to lose the case brought by Reform. That’s why they changed their mind;” “If Reform hadn’t pushed it, who would have done?” “I think they were running scared, more than that they deserve credit for doing it.”
“I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it”
Nearly everyone in our groups from all political backgrounds welcomed the prospect of a social media ban for under-16s. Several had doubts about enforcement, though this did not tend to put them off the policy: “I think it’s a good idea, but at the same time, there’s also things in place for kids under 18 not to drink alcohol, but they still do it. The kids will find a way round it;” “I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it. I’ve got two daughters and I’m scared out of my mind;” “If you can’t legally enforce it, you’ve got to culturally enforce it. You’ve got to have schools teach it, parents teach it. That’s the only way you’ll ever do it;” “If Australia can do it, we should follow suit.” A few thought an age limit missed the point, if the problem was the content that young people were able to access: “If there’s an issue with what they’re accessing, surely those people who are monitoring those systems should have something in place rather than ticking a button to say, ‘I’m over 18’.”
Most did not worry about censorship, given that there were already restrictions on what children could see and do. However, a few did suspect an authoritarian agenda: “We’re back to our personal IDs again. It’s another way of getting the IDs in. It’s just another way to put a blindfold over us.”
“It’s not as important to me as the way that they’re running the …
Why resist verification?
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
My latest focus groups took place among 2024 Tory-Labour switchers in Tamworth, Reform voters in Clacton, and Conservatives in Romford. The groups talked about local elections, social media, the fallout from the Mandelson saga, Reform’s new shadow cabinet, prospects for the Tories and what constitutes Peak Starmer.
“To stop us voting was the only way”
Our Essex participants were digesting the day’s news that their local elections were back on following the government’s latest reversal. They were sceptical, to say the least, about the reasons given for cancelling the elections in the first place: “They were supposedly moving borders around. Personally, I think it was because Labour knew they were going to lose a lot of areas, so to stop us voting was the only way;” with all the changes that happen in politics over the years, “I’ve never known elections to be cancelled like that.” Nor did they give ministers any praise for seeing the light: “They thought they were going to lose the case brought by Reform. That’s why they changed their mind;” “If Reform hadn’t pushed it, who would have done?” “I think they were running scared, more than that they deserve credit for doing it.”
“I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it”
Nearly everyone in our groups from all political backgrounds welcomed the prospect of a social media ban for under-16s. Several had doubts about enforcement, though this did not tend to put them off the policy: “I think it’s a good idea, but at the same time, there’s also things in place for kids under 18 not to drink alcohol, but they still do it. The kids will find a way round it;” “I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it. I’ve got two daughters and I’m scared out of my mind;” “If you can’t legally enforce it, you’ve got to culturally enforce it. You’ve got to have schools teach it, parents teach it. That’s the only way you’ll ever do it;” “If Australia can do it, we should follow suit.” A few thought an age limit missed the point, if the problem was the content that young people were able to access: “If there’s an issue with what they’re accessing, surely those people who are monitoring those systems should have something in place rather than ticking a button to say, ‘I’m over 18’.”
Most did not worry about censorship, given that there were already restrictions on what children could see and do. However, a few did suspect an authoritarian agenda: “We’re back to our personal IDs again. It’s another way of getting the IDs in. It’s just another way to put a blindfold over us.”
“It’s not as important to me as the way that they’re running the …
Lord Ashcroft: My latest focus groups “It wasn’t the original plan, was it, to be a load of failed Tories”
Why resist verification?
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit
My latest focus groups took place among 2024 Tory-Labour switchers in Tamworth, Reform voters in Clacton, and Conservatives in Romford. The groups talked about local elections, social media, the fallout from the Mandelson saga, Reform’s new shadow cabinet, prospects for the Tories and what constitutes Peak Starmer.
“To stop us voting was the only way”
Our Essex participants were digesting the day’s news that their local elections were back on following the government’s latest reversal. They were sceptical, to say the least, about the reasons given for cancelling the elections in the first place: “They were supposedly moving borders around. Personally, I think it was because Labour knew they were going to lose a lot of areas, so to stop us voting was the only way;” with all the changes that happen in politics over the years, “I’ve never known elections to be cancelled like that.” Nor did they give ministers any praise for seeing the light: “They thought they were going to lose the case brought by Reform. That’s why they changed their mind;” “If Reform hadn’t pushed it, who would have done?” “I think they were running scared, more than that they deserve credit for doing it.”
“I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it”
Nearly everyone in our groups from all political backgrounds welcomed the prospect of a social media ban for under-16s. Several had doubts about enforcement, though this did not tend to put them off the policy: “I think it’s a good idea, but at the same time, there’s also things in place for kids under 18 not to drink alcohol, but they still do it. The kids will find a way round it;” “I don’t know how they can enforce it, but I agree with it. I’ve got two daughters and I’m scared out of my mind;” “If you can’t legally enforce it, you’ve got to culturally enforce it. You’ve got to have schools teach it, parents teach it. That’s the only way you’ll ever do it;” “If Australia can do it, we should follow suit.” A few thought an age limit missed the point, if the problem was the content that young people were able to access: “If there’s an issue with what they’re accessing, surely those people who are monitoring those systems should have something in place rather than ticking a button to say, ‘I’m over 18’.”
Most did not worry about censorship, given that there were already restrictions on what children could see and do. However, a few did suspect an authoritarian agenda: “We’re back to our personal IDs again. It’s another way of getting the IDs in. It’s just another way to put a blindfold over us.”
“It’s not as important to me as the way that they’re running the …
