# Elections 2026 and The Defence vs. Welfare Debate

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-opinion-brief-7812172/elections-2026-and-the-defence-vs-welfare-debate
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-opinion-brief-7812172/elections-2026-and-the-defence-vs-welfare-debate.md
Podcast: [The Opinion Brief](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-opinion-brief-7812172)
Published: 2026-04-23T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/69d4dc9917813d9ba703342b/e/69e939190b4baf3bf2a04d1e/media.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2564

## Resource

In this episode of The Opinion Brief , we dive into the data behind the shifting tectonic plates of British politics. From a Reform UK lead in the polls to the "third rail" debate over cutting welfare to fund defence, we break down what the public actually thinks. In this episode: The Mandelson Scandal: Why the public sees it as a "rigged system" and what it means for Keir Starmer’s perceived strength. National Voting Intention: Reform UK hits 27%, moving 5 points ahead of the Conservatives. Defence vs. Welfare: Would the public sacrifice the triple lock pension to fund the military? Elections Deep Dive: MRP model projections for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd. The "Milk" Index: How your choice of milk (Oat vs. Cow) predicts your vote. ***** Access todays graphs, charts and images: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/newsletter/the-opinion-brief-podcast/ For more from the podcast: https://linktr.ee/OpinionBriefPod Contact us: hello@moreincommon.com Read more: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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