50 days in, Keir Starmer's popularity has slumped

Keir Starmer Labour Party Politics Polling Riots UK

August 24, 2024 - 1:30pm

It has not been an easy first 50 days as prime minister for Keir Starmer — and the polls are starting to show it.

Several recent surveys suggest that the Labour leader has gone down in the public’s estimation. Recent Ipsos data has Starmer’s net approval rating down to an unenthusiastic 0, from +7 just after the election. What’s more, 52% of Brits polled believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to only 22% who view the current direction of the UK positively.

Starmer was criticized for what many felt was a slow approach to dealing with the riots which began after last month’s Southport stabbings, failing to call an emergency Cobra meeting until a week after the first instance of civil unrest. Though an Opinium poll for the Observer found that 43% of voters approved of Starmer’s handling of the riots compared to 30% who disapproved, the same survey revealed that 29% had a more negative view of the Government than when it was elected six weeks previously. Only 24% had developed a more positive view of Starmer’s ministry.

Meanwhile, when YouGov polling from August 17-19 asked whether Brits approved of the Government’s record so far only 26% approved, down three points since July 29. Of those polled, 47% disapproved, up 16 points.

Although Starmer’s honeymoon period appears to have ended, it should be added that he was never too popular to begin with. In May, analysis from the Guardian of Ipsos data showed that he was roughly as popular as Ed Miliband was towards the end of his ill-fated spell as Labour leader in 2015. Ben Page, the polling company’s chief executive, said at the time: ‘Starmer’s personal ratings are the lowest Ipsos has ever seen for an opposition leader who is so far ahead in the overall voting intention.’

However, the same pollster found that Starmer finished his first week in power as popular as Boris Johnson was during the height of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. With 36% saying the new PM was doing a good job from July 12-15, a mere 14% thought he was doing poorly. This compares favorably to the 57% who thought Rishi Sunak was doing a bad job in Downing Street before he called the election.

The Labour Party more generally has come under fire in the past fortnight for alleged cronyism, certainly not helping Starmer’s popularity. Criticism has surrounded former Labour Together think-tanker Jess Sargeant’s appointment to a senior role in the Cabinet Office. Science Secretary Peter Kyle also appointed a former Labour Together staffer, Emily Middleton, to a senior role in his department, while there have been several other apparently political appointments to the Civil Service this month.

This influx of new — allegedly loyalist — personnel combined with Labour’s hasty changes of policy have certainly shown a party eager to make an instant impact. Bridget Phillipson’s repeal of the Higher Education (Free Speech) Bill and Angela Rayner’s denunciation of beauty as a requirement for building houses are just some examples of its ‘change’ agenda. But, as this week’s polls seem to suggest, not all change is a surefire route to popularity.

Max Mitchell is UnHerd’s Assistant Editor, Newsroom.

MaxJMitchell1

	This comment is spam
	This comment should be marked mature
	This comment is abusive
	This comment promotes self-harm
	Other

50 days in, Keir Starmer’s popularity has slumped

By Max Mitchell

Latest from the Newsroom

Le plan de mort assistée du Parti travailliste est-il un moyen d’équilibrer les comptes ?

Is Labour’s assisted dying plan a way to balance the books?

Les liens étrangers de Ryan Routh attirent une attention croissante

August 24, 2024 - 1:30pm

Join the discussion

Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber

To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.

Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.