Keir Starmer's approval rating has fallen to one of the lowest among Western leaders, according to a YouGov survey conducted at the end of August. Just 22% of Britons view the prime minister favourably, while 69% hold an unfavourable opinion, giving a net rating of -47%. Only French President Emmanuel Macron is more unpopular at home, with a net favourability of -55%.
The poll was taken before the resignation of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, which forced Starmer into a cabinet reshuffle. Labour's support has dropped from 37.5% at the July 2024 general election to 23.3% in June 2025, a fall of 14.2 points in 11 months. This is the worst decline for any governing party since 1983, when records began.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, now leads in the polls with around 30% support. Starmer's government has introduced tough policies on immigration and asylum, including suspending the family reunion policy, in an attempt to win back voters. However, 14% of 2024 Labour voters now intend to vote for Reform or the Conservatives, while 26% have defected to left-wing parties such as the Liberal Democrats, Greens, and nationalists.
The impact of Your party, a new left-wing group formed by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana, is not yet reflected in these polls. An Ipsos survey suggests a fifth of Britons would consider voting for Your party, rising to a third among Labour voters. Despite the dire ratings, Starmer's team may note that falling popularity is common for leaders in their first year, as seen with Macron's similar trajectory after his 2017 election.
