Government plan to remove the £20 uplift to Universal Credit is out of step with young Conservative voters 

Latest polling shows that 58% of Conservative voters want to see investment in the Social Security system. 

Research carried out by Survation for six women’s organisations: Close the Gap, Engender, Fawcett Society, Northern Ireland Women’s Budget Group,  Women’s Budget Group, and Women’s Equality Network Wales  with support from the Young Women’s Trust highlights the overwhelming support from young people (aged 18-30) for the Government to invest in social infrastructure.  

• 69% of Conservative voters and 73% of Labour want to see early education and childcare better funded.  
• 65% of Conservative voters and 75% of Labour voters want investment in free social care for older people and disabled people.  
• 62% of Conservative voters and 67% of Labour voters support investment in green initiatives towards a zero-carbon economy. 
• 73% of Conservative and 77% of Labour voters support investment in affordable housing and security for renters.  

The overwhelming support from young people for the Government to invest in social infrastructure comes after a substantial proportion of young people expressed concern about the security of their job when the furlough scheme ends in September and their future prospects.  

Exclusive research also reveals the huge knock-on effect of Covid money worries on mental health  

An accompanying in-depth report also highlights the stark impact of the pandemic on low income young women’s future plans, as the knock-on effects continue well beyond this year.  It was encouraging to see these stark findings reported in the Huffington post here.   

• Only 1 in 3 (30%) of furloughed young women from low-income households  had their salary topped up by their employer compared to over half of young men .   
• Young men (38%) and young women on low incomes were just as likely to be worried about losing their job when the furlough scheme ends compared to 17% of young women and 19% of young men on higher incomes.    

• 51% of young people are concerned that if they lose their jobs that benefits will not cover their essential costs  
• Over a half (57%) of young women from low-income households said their mental health had become worse during the coronavirus pandemic compared to 49% young women from higher-income households and 42% young men of all income levels.  

Read the general research briefing here; and the briefing about young people on low incomes here.  

This research was funded by Standard Life Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.  It comprises analysis of data from a survey of 1,026 adults in the UK aged 18 to 30 conducted in early June 2021.