UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Reform UK leader Nigel Farage leads Prime Minister Keir Starmer 33%-30% in PM poll, as Labour hits a record low and faces leadership concerns.
As reported by The Telegraph, Nigel Farage is now the preferred choice for Prime Minister, overtaking Sir Keir Starmer for the first time.
What did Ipsos find about public support for Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer, and Tories?
A recent poll shows 33% of respondents see Nigel Farage as the stronger candidate for Prime Minister, compared with 30% for Keir Starmer.
A monthly Ipsos survey indicates Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s mayor, is favoured over Mr Starmer as a better Prime Minister.
Voter support for the Conservative Party rises after the party conference, giving leader Kemi Badenoch a boost over Labour.
The latest survey could heighten speculation over Mr Starmer’s leadership ahead of next May’s local elections, where Labour faces expected losses.
Labour rules prevent MPs from removing the leader, but Sir Keir Starmer could step down if the Parliamentary Labour Party sees him as a liability.
What did the YouGov poll reveal about Labour, Nigel Farage, and party leaders?
A new YouGov survey reveals Labour has slumped to 17%, trailing Reform UK by 10 points and just one point ahead of the Greens.
Support for Sir Keir Starmer has declined as Reform UK campaigns on immigration and crime, Labour holds a uninspiring conference, and voters worry about tax hikes in next month’s Budget.
The latest poll shows Mr Starmer’s net favourability has slipped 3.5 points to minus 40 since last month, while Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage have risen 1.5 points to minus 22 and minus nine, respectively.
A survey of more than 1,100 adults shows Mr Farage leads Mr Starmer by three points as preferred prime minister, while Mr Starmer’s lead over Ms Badenoch has fallen from 12 to five points.
Polling indicates 26% see Andy Burnham as the better prime minister, 17% back Sir Keir Starmer, and 43% say neither.
When questioned about their voting intentions, 40% of respondents said they were very or fairly likely to vote Reform UK, with 31% for the Greens, 29% for the Conservatives, 28% each for Labour and the Lib Dems, and 18% for Jeremy Corbyn’s Your Party.
When asked about policy priorities, voters placed Reform UK ahead on the economy, public services, taxation, and immigration.
Ahead of next month’s Budget, the public was asked about potential changes to taxes. The survey showed 64% of respondents support a wealth tax, including 1% on assets above £10m and 2% on holdings over £1bn, with strongest backing among over-55s.
The poll found 42% support scrapping stamp duty on main homes, 20% oppose, and the rest are undecided.
The YouGov poll indicates the government’s unpopularity is rising, with reports suggesting the Prime Minister could face a leadership challenge in the coming months.
The survey shows Labour is polling lower under Mr Starmer than the Conservatives did under former PM Rishi Sunak, whose lowest pre-election score was 18%.
YouGov MRP reveal Reform UK could form government with 311 seats, Labour drops to 144 and Tories to 45 in hypothetical election.
What did Keiran Pedley say about Nigel Farage’s lead over Keir Starmer?
Keiran Pedley, Director of Politics at Ipsos UK, stated,
“Nigel Farage’s slight lead over Keir Starmer in a head to head of who would make a better Prime Minister signifies an intriguing shift in the political landscape. Our data also shows a growing public confidence in Reform’s proposed plans for the economy and immigration, which Britons consistently rank at the top of the issues that they see as most important to them.”
What did Luke Tryl say about Nigel Farage’s prospect of becoming PM?
Luke Tryl, the executive director of More in Common UK stated, “Only 13 per cent of Britons are confident Keir Starmer will remain in post after the next election, while a striking 41 per cent say they simply don’t know what the next elected government will look like.”
He added, “In fact, the public rate Nigel Farage’s chances of becoming prime minister as highly as those of the current PM, with Reform voters particularly convinced their man will be walking into Downing Street. It’s yet another sign of the Reform leader’s ability to cast a political shadow far larger than his party’s presence in Westminster.”
Why is Keir Starmer losing support?
Keir Starmer is losing support as many of his 2024 voters switch to the Lib Dems, Greens, and nationalist parties, unhappy with Labour’s shift to the right.
The party is also struggling to connect with economically insecure voters, with many citing poor handling of the cost-of-living crisis.
