Wealthy voters 'more likely to support Labour'

Voters in Britain's wealthiest constituencies are more likely to support Labour than the Conservatives, research suggests today.

An analysis of Britain's 10 richest seats show that half are held by Labour and just three by the Tories.

The research, revealed in today's Financial Times, highlights Labour's broad appeal and suggests it has overturned traditional classbased political allegiances.

But an analysis of the poorest constituencies suggests the party has a surprisingly loose grip in the most deprived areas. Just four of the 10 poorest seats in Britain are held by Labour. The research is based on the Government's first ever figures for the average earnings in each constituency. The country's richest constituency, Kensington and Chelsea, where average earnings top ?700 a week, remains staunchly Conservative.

However, the second and third richest seats - Richmond Park and Wimbledon - are held by the Liberal Democrats and Labour. Labour also has the fifth richest seat, Batterseaand the seventh, eighth and ninth - Hammersmith and Fulham, Hampstead and Highgate, and Finchley and Golders Green.

The Tories only hold two other seats in the top 10 - the City of London and Westminster, and Windsor. Of the 10 poorest seats, the one with the lowest average earnings - Banff and Buchan - is held by the Scottish National Party.

Rick Nye, director of opinion pollsters Populus, said: "Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher between them have managed to undermine the traditional class base of British politics."