The price of food is the most important cost of living pressure the government needs to tackle in 2026 according to voters in the East of England, as Reform continues to dominate the polls.
The new MRP research, conducted by Ipswich based communications agency PLMR Genesis in partnership with Electoral Calculus, found the number one issue influencing voting intensions in the region was rising food prices (58%).
This was closely followed by energy bills (50%), taxation (33%), rent and housing costs (29%) and wages and income support (21%).
The poll also revealed that, if a General Election was held tomorrow, the region would see a political earthquake with Labour suffering significant losses with Reform capitalising on the discontent.
The seat by seat polling found, across Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, Labour would lose every single seat.
Reform would win seven out of the possible eight seats in Suffolk, with the Greens holding onto Waveney Valley.
In Essex, Reform would come top in 15 out of the total 18 seats. Of the remaining three Essex seats, the Conservatives would win North West Essex and Epping Forest whilst the Liberal Democrats would win Chelmsford.
In Cambridgeshire, Reform would win five out of the possible eight seats. Of the remaining three Cambridgeshire seats, the Liberal Democrats would win Cambridgeshire South and St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, with the Greens winning the remaining seat, Cambridge.
In Norfolk, Reform would win eight out of the possible ten seats, with the Greens holding onto Waveney Valley and Norwich South.
Nationally, if an election was held tomorrow, the poll puts Reform on 31% of the vote making it the largest party and on course to win 335 seats. This would be enough to form a small overall majority.
The Conservatives would be in second place on 21% with 92 seats, followed by the Liberal Democrats on 11% with 60 seats, Labour on 17% with 41 seats, and the Greens on 12% but overtaking Labour with 52 seats.
Tim Miller, Managing Director of PLMR Genesis, the East of England team for PLMR, said: “This polling reflects just how much the cost of living is weighing on people’s minds right now. Across the East of England, we are seeing that the price of the weekly shop and the rise in energy bills are the biggest factors influencing how people plan to vote. It’s clear that the financial squeeze families are feeling at home is driving many to look toward other parties to voice their frustration.
“Labour will be well aware that they have a mountain to climb to win back the region. But whilst the polling is challenging for them today, there is still plenty of time to turn it around. Change is never quick enough but, to recover ground before the next election, they have to move beyond policy and ensure people genuinely feel they are better off with more money in their pocket.”
Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, said: “Labour is suffering double trouble from the rise of Reform on the right, and the growth of the Greens on the left. But there is still some hope for Labour. The newly-launched Your Party is not polling as well as it did in our previous poll just three months ago, and is now down to around 2pc and about four seats.
“As economic issues, like the cost-of-living, are very important to voters, Labour might also capitalise on the sketchiness of Reform and Green economic plans.”
