Pollster Matt Goodwin explains key factor in Tory woes amid reform surge

Voter apathy proved to be the Conservatives’ “enemy” in the general election, according to polling expert Matt Goodwin, and explained how low turnout helped Labour to victory.

“It’s roughly where it was in 2005, around 60 per cent,” he told GB News.

“I think in the coming week we will be looking more deeply at two interesting issues related to this election.

“First, turnout has fallen sharply, especially in many traditionally safe Labour constituencies.

Matt Goodwin says low turnout was a key factor in this election

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“Second, this is one of the lowest combined vote totals for the two largest parties that we have had since the inception of the two-party system.

“You have here another symptom that voters are very frustrated and bored with politics. This is a punishing election. Voters punished the SNP by voting Labour in Scotland and punished the Conservatives by voting Labour in most of England.

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“They punished Labour in Wales because the vote in Wales fell.”

Asked by Andrew Pierce how much of the low turnout could be attributed to disillusionment with the Conservatives, Goodwin replied that political apathy was proving to be the party’s “enemy.”

“It’s not like people immediately turned to Nigel Farage,” he said.

“But people also stayed at home and didn’t vote at all. That also raises the question of why Labour didn’t convince them?

Matt Goodwin reacts to Labour’s landslide victory

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“But as I said earlier, Labour’s vote share is down 0.6 per cent. Take London away and I’d wager that share is down.”

Rishi Sunak made a solemn speech outside Downing Street this morning after conceding defeat in a difficult election.

He said: “I will soon meet with His Majesty the King to tender my resignation as Prime Minister.

“First of all, I would like to say to the entire country: I’m sorry.

Sunak sacked from No 10 after crushing defeat

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“I have given my all in this job, but you have sent a clear message that the UK government needs to change. And your judgement is the only one that counts.

“I heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”

When 648 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons were announced, Labour had a majority of 176 votes.

Labour won 412 seats and the Conservatives 121.