They were Tony Blair’s not-so-secret weapon in his landslide victory in 1997. But now women voters appear to be turning their backs on Labour under his successor Gordon Brown.

Until 1997, Labour had traditionally suffered from a “gender gap” in which the Conservative Party did better among women voters. Experts calculate that if women had not been given the vote, there would have been more or less a continuous period of Labour government since 1945. If only women had voted at the last election in 2005, Labour’s majority would have been about 90, rather than the 66 it won. If only men had voted, it would be a precarious 23.

Now the Labour-affiliated Fabian Society is warning that the party could be hit by a new “gender gap” at the next election because women seem to prefer the Tories’ approach to public services. It is accusing the Government of a “political failure” in explaining its multi-billion pound investment in public services and persuading voters, particularly women, that it still cares about people.

Polling for the Fabians by YouGov found that women believe the Tories care the most about the quality of services, while men think Labour cares most. Women are twice as likely as men to say they do not know who cares most.

…more at The Independent

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1. Liberal Conspiracy

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