Politics

Keir Starmer’s Popularity Just Hit Rock Bottom and Voters Are Not Holding Back

Published on July 14, 2025

Keir Starmer is having an absolute nightmare start to his time at Number 10, with his approval ratings taking a nosedive to the lowest point yet. According to a new poll by Opinium, only 18 per cent of Brits think he’s doing a good job as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, a hefty 60 per cent disapprove, leaving him with a brutal net score of minus 41. That’s even worse than the end of June, dropping another six points.

It’s not exactly the kind of birthday present he would’ve wanted as he recently hit the one-year mark in office. Instead of celebrations, he’s facing growing discontent, economic worries, and a public that’s clearly unimpressed with how things are going.

A big part of the backlash has come from the chaos surrounding benefits policy. Sir Keir was forced into a major U-turn after plans to rein in disability and health payments sparked outrage. The climbdown only added to speculation that tax hikes are just around the corner, reported the Daily Mail.

Then there was the jaw-dropping moment in Parliament earlier this month when Chancellor Rachel Reeves broke down in tears during PMQs. She later said it was due to a personal matter, not political pressure, but the timing couldn’t have been worse as Labour tries to steady the ship.

All of this seems to be fuelling the narrative that Sir Keir’s first year in office might be one of the roughest starts any Prime Minister has had. Some historians and pollsters have gone as far as to say it could be the worst ever. And now, to make matters worse, Reform has managed to overtake Labour in voter intentions – a pretty shocking turnaround given the landslide Labour secured just last July.

The poll also revealed that even among Labour voters from the last election, support for Starmer is slipping. Fewer than half of them now believe he’s doing a good job. That’s a worrying sign for a government still fresh out of the gate.

Rachel Reeves isn’t faring much better either. Her net approval rating has dropped to minus 39, with only 14 per cent giving her the thumbs-up. It’s clear that the public aren’t buying what the top team in Downing Street is selling right now.

James Crouch, who heads up policy and public affairs at Opinium, didn’t sugarcoat the situation. He said Sir Keir was in a “vulnerable position” and warned that with Reeves’ ratings close behind his, the pressure is only going to mount. “Questions will only intensify about how Downing Street plan to dig themselves out of the hole they’re now in,” he added.

It’s a tough reality for a party that swept into power with sky-high expectations. If the mood of the country is anything to go by, Team Starmer has a serious job on its hands to win people back.

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