MORE Anglicans voted for UKIP in the General Election than voted for the Liberal Democrats, the latest study of voting behaviour suggests.

The British Election Study, in which 30,027 people were surveyed, was undertaken immediately after the General Election on 7 May. When the voting figures were analysed by religious affiliation, it was found that the image of the Church of England as the “Tory party at prayer” remained apt: 46 per cent of Anglican respondents voted Conservative; 13 per cent voted for UKIP; and eight per cent supported the Liberal Democrats.

The historically observed trend among Roman Catholics to vote Labour also remained: 42 per cent voted for the party. Labour also registered very strong support among Muslims, among whom 72 per cent voted for the party.

In contrast, 50 per cent of Jewish respondents voted Conservative. Voting for the Liberal Democrats was more likely among Methodists and Baptists.

In Scotland, the study suggested that one third of Scottish Anglicans voted Conservative, and 19 per cent supported the Scottish National Party (SNP). Among all other Christian denominations and faiths, however, the SNP gained the support of 55 per cent of RCs, and 45 per cent of Presbyterian voters.

Similarly, in Wales, support for the nationalist party, Plaid Cymru, was lowest among Anglican voters, of whom five per cent voted for the party. Labour earned the most votes of Anglicans in Wales with 38 per cent, just ahead of the Conservative Party’s 36 per cent.

The study was carried out between 8 and 26 May.

www.britishelectionstudy.com