Home Corresponden
Support for recognising a Palestinian state is present across a wide range of constituencies in the UK, not only among Muslim voters, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by The Times.
The poll, which surveyed around 2,000 British adults, found that 45% of respondents back the UK government’s position to recognise Palestine as an independent state if Israel fails to meet conditions including a ceasefire and reviving negotiations for a two-state solution. Fourteen percent opposed recognition, while 41% were undecided.
Support varies across political affiliations, with 68% of Green Party voters and 64% of Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters in favour. Conservative backing stood at 32%, and support among Reform UK voters was lowest, at 15%.
By age group, 61% of 18- to 24-year-olds supported recognition, compared with between 40% and 45% among older age groups. Among religious groups, 82% of Muslim respondents expressed support, alongside 46% of those with no religion and 40% of Christians.
The poll also highlights geographic patterns of support. Urban areas with relatively small Muslim populations, such as Chester North and Liverpool Riverside, recorded plurality or majority backing at 37% and 58%, respectively. Blackburn, which elected a Gaza Independent candidate in 2024, showed 71% support for recognising Palestine.
Regions including Merseyside, Cheshire, and the Central Belt of Scotland also demonstrated notable levels of backing, indicating support extends beyond Muslim-majority communities.
Photo: Protesters gather in London’s Trafalgar Square during the ‘Gaza – Stop the Massacre’ demonstration, November 4, 2023. (Credit: Alisdare Hickson/Wikimedia)
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