Sir Keir Starmer has defiantly stated he will become Prime Minister after the next general election, despite a significant poll revealing deep unrest within his own party's support base. A YouGov survey indicates that nearly half of Labour voters believe he should relinquish his leadership.
Poll Reveals Deep Division Over Labour Leadership
The survey of 2,100 people, conducted on November 12 and 13, found that 23 per cent of respondents think the Labour leader should quit immediately. A further 22 per cent believe he should stand down at some point before the next election. Only a third, 34 per cent, said he should continue to lead the Labour Party into the contest.
When asked if he would stay on, Sir Keir told The Mirror: 'Yes, I will. Let me be really clear - every minute that's not spent talking about and dealing with the cost of living is a minute wasted of the political work of this Government.' He added that he remains 'utterly focused' on bearing down on the cost of living and helping people feel better off.
Competence and the Challenge Ahead
The polling data paints a challenging picture for Labour's perceived competence. 29 per cent of voters said they believed the Conservatives were more competent than the last Labour government, while only 25 per cent thought Labour was more competent. A significant 29 per cent believed both parties were just as bad.
Furthermore, just over 40 per cent said Rishi Sunak was a better prime minister than Sir Keir, a view shared by 14 per cent of those who voted Labour in the last election. Over half of those polled said Labour was either more divided or as divided as the Conservatives.
This internal pressure has led to speculation that Sir Keir could face a leadership challenge after the local elections in May next year, with a number of Labour MPs reportedly concerned he is an electoral liability.
Budget Fears and Potential Successors
The polling comes ahead of Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget announcement next week. There are fears that working families could be more than £1,000 worse off due to a looming stealth tax raid.
Analysis has found that Ms Reeves' plan to freeze income tax thresholds for a further two years will cost higher-earning couples as much as £1,300 in tax and National Insurance. This process of 'fiscal drag' will see more workers in professions like nursing, policing, and teaching paying the higher 40 per cent tax rate.
Amid the leadership speculation, potential successors have been tipped. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is backed by eight per cent of voters, while the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is supported by 18 per cent of voters overall and 30 per cent of those who voted Labour at the last election. Net Zero and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Rachel Reeves are both backed by four per cent of voters.
