Immigration and the cost-of-living crisis.
Again. At most, a year for him as leader, with more than two thirds (68 percent) rating him as ‘badly’, just six months into the position.
will be the next Prime Minister of Britain.
A shocking survey has emerged at a critical time in Westminster, as speculation grows regarding Sir Keir’s possible departure, following a disappointing beginning to his time as Prime Minister.
Since Labour’s landslide victory last July, the party has faced a series of setbacks, including controversies over changes to farmers’ inheritance tax benefits, a tax hike on private education fees and gifts from contributors and lobbyists.
Last night, one Labour MP commented anonymously, ‘If this poll doesn’t trigger a sense of urgency in Number 10, then we are in grave danger.’
‘Sadly, it unfortunately bears out what I and other Labour colleagues have personally been experiencing on the ground.
‘There has never been widespread backing for Keir. However, following a series of mistakes – including abolishing winter fuel payments and raising taxes – what limited support existed for the Prime Minister has vanished completely.’
According to an exclusive survey by Deltapoll, 69 percent of people believe the country is moving in an undesirable direction. Key concerns include the rising cost of living and the state of the National Health Service, ranked highest among public concerns.
Approximately 33% are particularly concerned about the economy, while 14% are anxious about the impact of high taxes on themselves and their families.
Sixty-eight percent believe the government should introduce a cap on legal migrants entering the UK annually, while fifteen percent are concerned about record immigration with more than six in ten agreeing that immigrants coming to the UK should decrease.
Notwithstanding this trend, Labour remains in the lead among those polled, with 30 percent stating their intention to vote for the party in the upcoming General Election, as opposed to 23 percent for the Conservatives and 22 percent for Reform.
Labour trails the Tories in both leadership and economic management skills. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and shadow chancellor Mel Stride are perceived as a better choice to manage the economy than Labour’s leaders, Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Among Labour supporters, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stands out as the most likely candidate to assume the position of Prime Minister, while Conservative voters who participated in the last election show a preference for Boris Johnson’s return to frontline politics.
Polling is underway as MPs prepare to discuss a petition calling for a repeat of the General Election, after it collected 2.8 million signatures.
The outcome of the Westminster Hall debate cannot lead to a re-vote, but the popular petition has been used by Ms Badenoch to mock Sir Keir, indicating ‘two million people are asking him to resign’.
Labour sources claim that pressure will intensify against the Prime Minister unless he experiences a series of defeats in May’s local elections and any by-elections, and cannot resolve the ongoing small boats crisis.
One item was added last night: ‘The party will turn against him.’
‘It is very challenging to unseat a Labour leader, but he could become a redundant prime minister and the pressure would mount on him to step down.’
Members of Parliament also privately expressed that while “people are angry,” it is challenging to envision Sir Keir’s path out of Downing Street. “It’s very difficult to remove a Labour leader,” one of them pointed out, “You can’t just have men in suits telling them to leave.”
Others suggested that the number of Labour MPs with slim majorities – who worry that they will lose their seats unless polling improves – will also begin to exert pressure on Sir Keir. A Labour insider said: ‘If he’s not prepared to take a strong stance on issues like the small boats, on benefits, then what’s the point of him? Almost all the seats are up for grabs. If MPs start to rebel, then there’ll be pressure on him to step down.’
John Twyman, co-founder and director of Deltapoll, commented: ‘Just six months after taking office, Keir Starmer’s popularity in opinion polls may be a source of concern. With at least four years until the next election, there are some who believe the Prime Minister still has ample time to reverse his fortunes.
‘However, the trend in the polls has been downward, and unless there’s an improvement in economic conditions, it may be challenging to see a significant increase in the numbers anytime soon.’
While it may not exactly be a ‘Winter of Discontent,” 2025 is certainly a ‘Season of Displeasure’ and at the start of the new year, opinion polls will not bring any joy for the Labour Party.
‘Across many indicators, the public are clearly dissatisfied, and Keir Starmer will likely be hoping that things can be turned around in the new year. A more optimistic view of the economy from the British public will be crucial.’
But one Labour insider downplayed suggestions that Sir Keir could be stepping down as Prime Minister soon, saying: “The public has become accustomed to significant turbulence at the top of the government. They expect prime ministers to change frequently.”
‘Keir is elected to put an end to that disorder. That is exactly what he will do. If that requires navigating through some challenging situations and proving that we can achieve positive change over the longer term, that’s what he will do.’
- Deltapoll conducted an online survey of 1,144 British adults between December 30, 2024, and January 3, 2025. The results were weighted to ensure they were representative of the entire adult population in Britain.
