Sir Keir Starmer has officially become the least popular British prime minister since polling records began, according to new data released by Ipsos on the eve of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The poll shows a staggering collapse in public support, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK takes a commanding lead nationwide.
Just 13 percent of the public said they were satisfied with Starmer’s performance, while 79 percent were dissatisfied—giving him a net satisfaction rating of -66 percent. This is the lowest ever recorded by Ipsos since it began tracking public satisfaction with prime ministers in 1977. Starmer now ranks below both former Conservative leaders Sir John Major and Rishi Sunak, who each hit a low of -59 percent during their time in office.
Meanwhile, Farage’s Reform UK party now leads the national polls with 34 percent, up from previous months. Labour has fallen to 22 percent, marking its lowest level of support since 2009, when Gordon Brown led the party to a crushing defeat. According to Ipsos, Labour is now losing voters to both ends of the political spectrum—Reform on the right, and the Greens, Liberal Democrats, and even Jeremy Corbyn’s new political movement on the left.
Gideon Skinner, senior director at Ipsos, noted that dissatisfaction with Labour runs deeper than Starmer’s leadership alone. “Labour’s issues are deeper than changes in personnel,” he said, citing public concern over immigration, the economy, and public services. Reform’s rise, he added, reflects broader disillusionment and a desire for meaningful change.
In the latest YouGov MRP projection, Reform is on track to win 311 seats in the House of Commons—enough to make Nigel Farage prime minister. Labour is projected to suffer devastating losses, with its internal fractures growing. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has hinted at a possible leadership challenge, signaling that Starmer’s grip on the party may be slipping.
