Keir Starmer has become the most unpopular political figure in Britain, according to a new poll. His net favourability rating has plunged to between -50 and -57, a level only surpassed by Liz Truss. Focus group participants have described the prime minister as a “jellyfish” and a “doormat”, while the chant “Keir Starmer’s a wanker” has been heard at football matches and the world darts championship.
While political dislike is increasingly common in a fragmented and social media-driven era, Starmer stands out. Labour’s polling is flagging, but the party still outperforms the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and Greens, whose leaders are only mildly disliked. The intensity of the scorn for a leader seen as mild-mannered and decent by those who know him is puzzling.
One key factor is that Starmer has lost support from his own 2024 voters, who backed him strongly at the election but have since been alienated by government blunders and a policy focus on chasing Reform voters rather than engaging the Labour base. YouGov’s Anthony Wells notes that while Rishi Sunak was seen as doing a terrible job, there wasn’t the same deep personal dislike.
MPs cite a herd mentality and a sense of betrayal. One Labour backbencher said voters feel “sold a pup” by Starmer’s bold promises of change that have not materialised. Luke Tryl of More in Common says the anger crystallised early over freebies and the winter fuel payment cut, leading to a feeling that the “change” message was a sham.
Tryl adds that Starmer has become a vessel for frustration with the system, but the personal animosity stems from a perceived failure to deliver national renewal and drama-free politics. The combination of feeling conned and a broader sense that politics has failed to improve lives fuels the deep dislike.
