In a stunning blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, a recent YouGov poll has placed him as one of the least popular Prime Ministers in recent British history—second only to Liz Truss, whose brief and chaotic tenure in 2022 remains infamous. The poll results are a humiliating setback for Starmer, who has struggled to maintain public support since his historic landslide victory in the July 2024 General Election.
Starmer’s popularity has plummeted dramatically in the months since taking office, with his approval ratings now lower than those of Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, and even Margaret Thatcher. The Prime Minister’s net favourability stands at a dismal -40%, with only 26% of Britons approving of his performance and a staggering 66% disapproving. This places him just above Liz Truss, who resigned after just 45 days in office and is widely regarded as the worst Prime Minister in modern British history. Only 10% of Britons believe Truss was better than Starmer, while 43% view Starmer more favourably than Truss.
Starmer’s rapid decline in popularity can be traced back to a series of missteps and controversies that have plagued his time in office. Almost immediately after entering No. 10, he faced a wave of awkward gaffes and scandals, which were compounded by a disastrously received October Budget. The budget, which included unpopular tax hikes and spending cuts, sparked widespread criticism and further eroded public trust in his government.
The YouGov poll also revealed that Starmer’s cabinet is viewed as “incompetent” and “dishonest” by a significant portion of the electorate. This perception has only added to the Prime Minister’s woes, as voters grow increasingly disillusioned with his leadership. Despite these challenges, Starmer still manages to outperform Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has a favourability rating of just 17%, with 51% of Britons holding an unfavourable view of her.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, continues to make inroads with voters. Farage has a net approval rating of -30%, with 30% of voters viewing him favourably and 60% disapproving. While these numbers are far from stellar, they reflect a growing appetite for alternatives to the traditional Labour and Conservative parties. Reform UK has been gaining momentum, with six out of the last 10 opinion polls placing the party ahead of Labour—a remarkable shift in the political landscape.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, on the other hand, has emerged as the most popular political figure in the poll, with a net rating of -5%. While still in negative territory, Davey’s numbers are significantly better than those of Starmer, Badenoch, and Farage, suggesting that the Lib Dems could play a key role in shaping the future of British politics.
The poll results underscore the deep dissatisfaction among British voters with the current political leadership. Starmer’s inability to capitalise on his initial landslide victory has left many questioning his ability to govern effectively. With Reform UK gaining ground and the Conservatives struggling under Badenoch’s leadership, the political landscape is more fragmented than ever.
As Starmer grapples with his plummeting popularity, the question remains: can he turn things around, or is his premiership destined to be remembered as a missed opportunity? For now, the Prime Minister finds himself in the unenviable position of being compared to Liz Truss—a comparison no leader would want. The coming months will be crucial for Starmer as he seeks to rebuild public trust and salvage his legacy. But with Reform UK and the Lib Dems on the rise, the road ahead looks increasingly challenging.
What do you think? Can Starmer recover from this slump, or is his time in No. 10 already running out? Let us know your thoughts.
