Change UK, the new pro-second-referendum group, has ambitions to be the political party for all ‘remain’ voters in May’s EU Parliament elections, but why are they polling so badly?
The EU remainers’ answer to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, could not be experiencing more contrasting fortunes. While it’s all smiles for Farage’s slick new anti-EU party as it tops EU election opinion polls in the high 20s, Change UK (the Independent Group), is struggling to cause any political tremors with single-digit figures.
European parliament voting intention:
BREX: 27% (+27)
LAB: 27% (+2)
CON: 16% (-7)
LDEM: 8% (+1)
UKIP: 7% (-20)
CHUK: 4% (+4)
GRN: 4% (-4)via @Survation, 17 – 25 Apr
Chgs. w/ 2014— Britain Elects (@BritainElects) April 27, 2019
The Brexit Party has Mr Brexit himself, Nigel Farage, spearheading its campaign, while Change UK ostensibly suffer from a lack of name recognition within their ranks, with charismatic personalities in short supply.
Furthermore, the fact that Allen is only a interim chief means that there is a certain lack of direction at the top, with an inability to wield enough power, and set out her clear vision for the party.
If you cannot rely on your established brand name, as Labour and the Conservatives can, then you will inevitably suffer at the polls without a strong leader with a clear vision. At present, Change UK is severely struggling in this area.
The official name ‘Change UK – The Independent Group’ has been ridiculed by many on social media. For one, it’s incredibly long and has also triggered accusations that the group represents the opposite of ‘change,’ due to the makeup of centrist politicians who promote the neoliberal economic status quo.