A new poll reveals a sharp decline in public confidence, with over half of Brits believing the UK is on the wrong track—raising serious questions about Labour’s ability to steer the country forward. Here’s the full story.
Going the Wrong Way
A recent Ipsos survey has revealed a stark fact that will profoundly worry the newly elected Labour government: Only 22% of respondents think the United Kingdom is going in the right direction, while 52% believe the country is going in the wrong direction.
State of the Country
Considering the country’s current state, who can blame them? The UK’s rivers and seas are overflowing with sewage, with spills into England’s rivers and seas doubling to 3.6 million hours in 2023, up from 1.75 million hours in 2022, according to the UK’s Environment Agency.
Child Poverty Worsens
Incredibly, in the sixth most prosperous country in the world, child poverty is on the increase. A recent report from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) noted in 2022/23, 4.3 million children (30% of all UK children) were in poverty, up from 3.6 million in 2010/11.
Work Isn’t the Answer
In contrast to Labour and Conservative government platitudes that work is the best way out of poverty, the report also showed that 69% of poor children were in working families.
Housing Crisis Deepens
In addition to soaring poverty, it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy a house, leaving millions priced out of the homeownership market. The problem is particularly acute for young people, as since the mid-90s, real house prices have surged 160%, while young people’s real incomes have only grown by 23%.
Discontent and Disconnect
Considering all these factors, along with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, growing discontent over the disconnect between politicians, and the apparent stalemate over what to do about the impending climate catastrophe, the electorate is increasingly looking for someone to blame.
Starmer’s Honeymoon Ends
The Ipsos poll reveals that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s favorability rating dropped from +7 immediately after winning the election to zero. Similarly, while 38% of respondents still view Starmer favourably, an equal percentage now hold an unfavourable opinion of him.
Labour Still Ahead
Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK Politics at Ipsos, stated, “Labour and Keir Starmer are still enjoying a moderate honeymoon period as they enter their second month in government – the public feel somewhat more positively towards them than they did before the election was called.”
Better Than Conservatives
He added, “They are more popular than their main opponents, and their ratings are above the equivalent figures for Boris Johnson and the Conservatives two months after their 2019 victory, and above the two months after Rishi Sunak became PM.”
Conservative Struggles Continue
However, Labour, and by extension Starmer, will likely be buoyed by the fact that, despite early signs that the shine might be wearing off of their recently elected government, they are not doing nearly as badly as the Conservatives.
Conservative Unfavourability Rises
The Ipsos poll found that 40% of respondents had a favourable view of Labour, compared to 37% who held an unfavourable view. In contrast, the Conservative Party, led by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, saw 58% expressing an unfavourable opinion.
Sunak’s Ratings Lower
Similarly, despite Starmer’s declining popularity, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ratings were significantly lower during his time in office. His net rating was -10 in his second month as leader, compared to Starmer’s zero.
Uphill Battle for Tories
The Ipsos poll also indicates that the Conservatives are still struggling to regain public trust after their loss in the July 2024 election. Considering their unfavorability rating, they are facing an increasingly steep uphill battle in reshaping their image and retaining their voters, who fled en masse to Reform UK during the general election campaign.
Farage Fares Poorly
Interestingly, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, had unfavorability ratings almost as bad as Starmer’s. 54% of people viewed Farage unfavourably, the same as the unfavourability rating for his party.
Labour’s Challenges Grow
As the Labour government navigates its second month in power, the challenges it faces are becoming increasingly apparent. The public’s willingness to give them leeway after being newly elected is wearing increasingly thin.
Pessimism Still High
As Skinner noted, “There are signs of a small increase in public criticism of Labour, the Prime Minister and other key Cabinet ministers this month, but just as important for their longer-term prospects is the level of pessimism around the state of the country. This is not as bad as it was under the Conservatives, but half of Britons still think things are going in the wrong direction, and delivering on the public’s desire for improvements will be key when the honeymoon period ends.”
A Difficult Path Ahead
With a series of seemingly intractable problems facing a cash-strapped government and public opinion slowly turning against them, it remains to be seen whether Starmer can turn the ship of state around before it hits the rocks.
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Grant Gallacher is a seasoned writer with expertise in politics and impactful daily news. His work, deeply rooted in addressing issues that resonate with a wide audience, showcases an unwavering commitment to bringing forth the stories that matter. He is also known for satirical writing and stand up comedy.