Just over half of Community Care readers will be voting Labour in next week's general election, a poll has found.
With the party predicted to win a sizeable majority on Thursday (4 July), our poll found 52% of the 954 respondents would be voting Labour, with just 5% opting for the Conservatives.
Reform UK was readers' second most popular option at 12%, closely followed by the Greens (11%) and then the Liberal Democrats (9%).
Six per cent of readers said they would not be voting at all.
No funding commitments
Despite Labour being readers' most popular option, the party has made no funding commitments on either children’s or adult social care.
While it said it would introduce a "fair pay agreement" for adult social care workers, it has not allocated any funding to this. Likewise, the party has said it would implement the current government’s adult social care charging reforms in October 2025 but not addressed the fact that this is currently unfunded.
On children’s social care, it said it would strengthen regulation of the sector, though did not set out how, while it also refrained from committing to continuing the current government’s children’s social care reforms.
‘Social workers will have to struggle on’
Social workers commentating on our election coverage were pessimistic about the prospects of a Labour government for the profession.
“Social workers will have to struggle on, working excessive extra hours without pay," said David. "Vulnerable children and adults will not receive the services they need as a result."
“Clearly things are not going to substantially improve for social care, whether for children or adults. Nor are the pressures on social workers going to be addressed."
Another social worker, Nicola, said the Labour party wouldn't be "any different to the Tories".
"More austerity incoming, the most vulnerable carry the weight of the burden and the top 5% continue to be shielded by all parties."
What do you think the future holds for social work under a Labour government?
