A devastating new opinion poll has revealed a profound crisis of confidence in Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, showing that almost half of all Labour voters want him to leave Downing Street before the next general election.
A Damning Verdict from Labour's Own Supporters
The YouGov survey, conducted for The Times on November 12 and 13, delivered a brutal assessment of the Prime Minister's premiership. It found that 23 per cent of Labour voters believe Sir Keir should resign immediately and allow the party to elect a new leader.
A further 22 per cent think he should stand down at some point before the country next goes to the polls. This means a combined total of 45 per cent of the party's own supporters do not want him to lead Labour into the next election.
In stark contrast, only a third of those surveyed (34 per cent) said he should continue as leader into the campaign. The poll was based on responses from 2,100 people.
Turmoil in Downing Street and Policy Backlash
The polling was carried out amidst a period of intense internal conflict, with anonymous briefings from Number 10 accusing Health Secretary Wes Streeting of plotting to oust the Prime Minister. Mr Streeting vehemently denied the allegations, labelling them evidence of a "toxic culture" at the heart of government.
Sir Keir later apologised to his health secretary and stated he had been assured the briefings "didn’t come from Downing Street." He pledged to deal with anyone found to be briefing against ministers.
This internal drama is set against a backdrop of growing concern over the government's direction, particularly with next week's Budget looming. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing for sweeping tax rises to address a £20 billion black hole in the public finances.
Further complicating matters, the government's recent attempt to tackle immigration backfired, provoking a rebellion from its own MPs. The unveiling of a tough new asylum system was attacked by up to 20 Labour MPs.
Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan, a former immigration lawyer, said the ministers' rhetoric encouraged a "culture of divisiveness." Meanwhile, Stella Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, labelled the changes "performatively cruel."
Comparisons with the Tories and Starmer's Response
The damaging survey also indicated that voters are drawing unfavourable comparisons with the previous Conservative administration. A significant 29 per cent of voters said the previous Tory government was more competent than the current Labour one.
Only 25 per cent believed Labour was more competent, while another 29 per cent said both were equally poor. In a personal blow for the Prime Minister, just over 40 per cent of respondents said Rishi Sunak was a better prime minister than Sir Keir, a view shared by 14 per cent of those who voted Labour at the last election.
Confronting the speculation over his future, Sir Keir vowed to lead his party into the next election. In a statement to the Mirror, he sought to refocus attention on the cost of living, saying: "Let me be really clear — every minute that’s not spent talking about and dealing with the cost of living is a minute wasted." He added that he remained "utterly focused" on making people feel better off.
However, this new poll suggests he faces a monumental task in reuniting his party and convincing the public, and a large portion of his own supporters, of his ability to govern.
