Tories were warned about anger at austerity before the election

Frances O’Grady (centre), general secretary of the TUC, joins union members at a protest over public sector pay.Concerns about austerity and the public-sector pay cap were highlighted in internal Conservative research carried out before the general election, leaving senior figures aghast that the party failed to act upon the warnings, the Guardian understands.Individuals taking part in a series of in-depth focus groups raised widespread concerns over issues such as school cuts and the lack