Portland

Just before votes were cast in the General Election, Portland conducted polling to work out the policy areas with the most riding on them for Keir Starmer. Our Jeopardy Index showed the top ten issues which Labour voters say would prompt them to change their vote if the new government fails to deliver. In his first speech as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer touched on nine out of the ten issues. Click the link below to read Portland's analysis of what the that tells us about Starmer's priorities. https://lnkd.in/eYzwB8xV

Who are Labour's new cohort of MPs? The declarations are in and amongst Labour’s 412 confirmed MPs, 243 were not previously members of parliament when Rishi Sunak called the election. Our database of Labour’s 2024 cohort lets you find the new MPs with experience or interest in the sectors relevant to you. Search by sector to see the names and profiles of the new MPs. Get in touch if you want to understand the dynamics of this new cohort and ensure you are navigating the new political landscape effectively. https://lnkd.in/ec7X_qDz

Labour has won a decisive victory in the general election - just shy of Tony Blair’s seat count in 1997. The Conservatives have suffered their worst-ever result in terms of both seats and vote share. Given the starting point of Starmer's leadership back in 2020, it is impossible to overstate the scale of the Labour victory.   He now has a majority large enough to push through the most bold of political agendas. But this election was never just a battle between Conservatives and Labour, and the results show that. The dynamics of the vote - with Reform, Greens and the Liberal Democrats all significantly exceeding expectations - demonstrates the volatility of the UK electorate, something which looks set to become the political norm.   UK voters have shown they are willing to vote tactically, exact punishment and ditch parties as quickly as they lend them their support. The low turnout suggests at least a portion are willing to reject the vote altogether. During the campaign Keir Starmer said he was embarking on a "decade of renewal" - these results suggest voters are prepared to give him the mandate to deliver big change, but there's no guarantee there will be the patience to wait a decade for it.   And for public affairs strategies, businesses this need to get used to moving away from a predominantly two party focus seen over the last few decades, towards a deepening and broadening of relationships across many more political parties.

Last night, Portland co-hosted our Election night party with Prospect Magazine in the heart of Westminster.   It was great to see so many of Portland's clients and friends there, and the energy was palpable as we gathered in the auditorium to watch the exit poll live.   A huge thank you to the team at Prospect Magazine for helping us to pull off such a fantastic evening. 

As well as it being polling day in the UK today, French voters will also be heading to the polls this week, for the second time in their legislative elections.    Our French colleagues hosted a breakfast yesterday to pose the question: What's at stake in these elections in terms of policy making and international relations?   The team were joined by former French Ambassador to the United States Gérard Araud and political scientist Chloé Morin.   They had a lively and rich discussion covering the fallout from the 1st round of the elections, the possible outcomes from Sunday's 2nd round, and the potential international impacts that could follow.    Many thanks to all the participants for attending. Stephane HARROUCH Daphne Cafritz

Last week, our research team led by Gabriel Milland conducted a nationally representative online survey to identify a “Jeopardy Index” for a future Labour government. The index ranks the top 10 issues which – if not acted upon in the next Parliament – are most likely to make people who say they are certain to vote Labour today, choose not to vote for Labour next time. Despite not featuring prominently in manifestos or party-political campaigning, its notable that those surveyed chose “access to as many of the best new medicines possible, even if expensive” as the issue most likely to dissuade them from voting Labour again. Surprisingly, it was the youngest age group who were most likely to consider withdrawing their vote if access to medicines was not prioritized, with 72% of 18 to 24 year olds polled highlighting a lack of progress on medicine access as a vote-shifter, compared to only 37% of those aged 65 years and over. Read more about the findings in The PharmaLetter here: https://lnkd.in/eYRrVwc3

Gabriel Milland, Partner in Portland's Data, Research and Polling team, shares some very interesting and timely new research from our in-house experts looking into what the voter coalition that will surely bring Starmer to power wants to see Labour deliver in government. Check out more details here👇

On Monday, our Portland Brussels Health Team Laura Cigolot, Brunello de Vita and Celeste Alvi were in Helsinki to launch a Call to Action and drive feasible policy change in non-communicable diseases! At Portland Brussels we are happy to support clients in delivering a healthier EU for all!

Last week, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump squared off in the first United States Presidential debate of 2024. The heavyweight bout has shaken up the American political landscape - and rattled Democratic confidence in their candidate. What happened, and what does it mean for November? Read the full blog written by Katherine Connolly, Senior Consultant in Portland's PA & Policy team and David Lampietti, Executive in Portland's Corporate Comms team, here: https://bit.ly/45NeZUm

How are you planning to watch election night? Whether you are at a count, at a party or at home on your sofa - set yourself up like a pro and know the answers to questions others will be asking. Our expert team of former political advisers, civil servants and journalists have put together a guide to understand exactly what's going on as the night progresses. Sign-up to download your copy here: https://bit.ly/3VFPAHK