IFAs stick by Tories

IFAs are bucking national trends by backing the Conservatives, according to an exclusive poll conducted for Money Marketing and Skandia by H2B.

The poll found that, nationwide, 35 per cent of IFAs voted

Conservative, 17 per cent Labour and 9 per cent Liberal Democrat.

The poll, sponsored by Skandia in advance of its conference on the future

of IFAs hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald on June 11, highlights IFA concerns

over Labour&#39s plans for the future of the industry.

But in a sign that a generation gap is opening up, younger IFAs are more

likely to vote Labour (26 per cent) than Tory (24 per cent). However, 58

per cent of IFAs over the age of 55 say they voted Tory, with only 4

per cent preferring Labour. Support for the LibDems is constant at around

9 per cent.

Female IFAs show less enthusiasm for the Tories, with 22 per cent voting Tory compared with 20 per cent Labour.

But many IFAs had still to make up their mind at the time the poll was conducted, with 21 per cent undecided.

Skandia senior group marketing manager Andre Oszmann says: “IFAs as a

community do not appear to reflect the voting intentions of public at large.

“Perhaps this is because Labour have introduced Cat standards, stakeholder

pensions and depolarisation.”

Options for Women managing director Liz Lyke says: “Obviously, William

Hague has not appealed to women but I cannot say that Labour have done IFAs

any favours.”