Cooper leads Corbyn in focus groups of ex-Labour voters

Former Labour voters prefer leadership contender Yvette Cooper to frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn, a Newsnight/Ipsos Mori focus group suggests.

In-depth discussion groups were held with voters aged 30-50 in the swing constituencies of Nuneaton and Croydon on 20 August and 26 August.

All had previously voted Labour, but gone with a different party in 2015.

Although small, market researchers use focus groups to better understand people's underlying views on an issue.

Recent polls of Labour supporters have suggested that Mr Corbyn is the clear frontrunner in the race for the Labour leadership.

Earlier this month, a YouGov poll of 1,400 eligible voters for The Times put Mr Corbyn on 53%, 32 points ahead of his nearest rival Andy Burnham.

But in the Newsnight/Ipsos Mori focus groups, which were of former Labour voters that won't be voting in the leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn was the least preferred contender.

He was described by one as "bitter and jealous of the rich people" and by another as "unelectable as prime minister".

Yvette Cooper came out on top, and was described as "positive" and "addressing the needs of the working class people".

The focus group participants described Andy Burnham as "quite credible". On Liz Kendall, they said she needs more "passion" and "personality".

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was still highly regarded among participants.

Ipsos Mori conducted two discussion groups on behalf of BBC Newsnight, each lasting around 90 minutes. The groups were shown a number of clips from speeches and interviews given by the candidates.

Ballot papers for the Labour leadership vote were sent out to party members, registered supporters and affiliated supporters on 14 August and must be returned by 10 September. The result is due on 12 September.

The focus groups will be aired on Newsnight at 22.30 on BBC Two on Friday 28 August, and afterwards on iPlayer.