BRITONS do not want to go to war and do not back the bipartisan elite bellicosity, a new poll has revealed.

The poll, by Focaldata for online platform UnHerd, found that voters were much more realistic about foreign policy than either of the main parties.

Unlike Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, only 7 per cent want Britain to be more engaged in overseas conflicts, while 44 per cent feel it should be less involved.

That is the view of most right-wing voters, including the great majority of Reform supporters and a plurality of Tories.

Only Labour voters showed a narrow preference for maintaining the present high level of overseas engagement.

But Labour voters are far more critical of Israel than their party leadership is, with most blaming the Israeli government for the conflict in Gaza rather than Hamas.

Fifty-five per cent of Labour supporters back the prosecution of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court, with only 14 per cent opposed.

Nor are voters united behind the Establishment’s confrontation towards China, with only 41 per cent backing the US against 52 per cent that either favour non-alignment or are unsure.

The poll does show some backing for resisting Russia in the Ukraine war, but the absolute majority of voters in all parties are against British combat troops getting involved.

Remarkably, only 21 per cent of parents would want their children to fight even in the event of a direct invasion of the country. As for fighting to defend Poland, Ukraine or Taiwan, let alone Israel — forget it.

The poll only underlines the disconnect between the public and the politicians on issues of war and peace.