Voters say the UK should be putting its energy into solar, with many disagreeing with the Government’s pledge to “max out” the country’s gas and oil fields, a new Omnisis poll shows.

More than a third of people (36%) disagreed with the Government’s new plan to issue 100 new gas and oil exploration licences with only 32% agreeing. 31% said they didn’t know. 

Even more people (43%) said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “max out” the UK’s fossil fuel reserves was not compatible with the UK’s commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. Only 26% agreed that it was compatible with the environmental goal with 31% saying they didn’t know.

Meanwhile, a real trajectory towards renewable energy sources is emerging for voters, with 50% saying the country’s energy focus should be on solar, closely followed by offshore wind (47%), onshore wind (39%) and then nuclear (27%).

Only 18% said the focus should be on existing gas with 15% saying existing oil, 15% going for new gas, 12% for new oil and 17% said they didn’t know.

Finally, as four activists were arrested for climbing on the roof of the Prime Minister’s home to drape an oil-black fabric in protest at the new gas and oil licences, Omnisis asked voters if they felt this was an acceptable form of protest. 

A whopping 60% said no it wasn’t, with only 27% saying it was acceptable and 14% didn’t know.

ON INTEREST RATES AND LABOUR OPPOSITION

Half of British voters (50%) said they will be worse off after the Bank of England raised the base interest rate to 5.25% on 3rd August, a 15-year high. Only 12% said they would be better off while 39% said it would make no difference.

Meanwhile, as Labour struggled to put forward any strong opposition to the latest Conservative financial and energy policies, Omnisis asked if people think Labour is currently an effective opposition party.

Less than half of voters (41%) feel they are, with 37% saying they are not and 22% don’t know.

VOTER INTENTION TRACKERS

Our weekly trackers show Rishi Sunak’s net approval rating well and truly in the red while Labour maintains a 22-point lead over the Conservatives.

ON VOTER INTENTION

ON PRIME MINISTER’S APPROVAL

ON BEST PRIME MINISTER

ON BREXIT SENTIMENT

This week’s poll was conducted on 3rd-4th August 2023, questioned 1,420 people and is weighted to a national representative population.