Keir Starmer’s ratings for changing Labour for the better and being decisive drop, new poll

Prime Minister’s Questions

Sir Keir Starmer’s ratings for changing Labour for the better, being decisive and giving people a reason to vote for the party have dropped compared to three years ago, according to a new poll.

The Ipsos survey for The Standard found 37 per cent of adults in Britain believe he has changed the party for the better since becoming leader, down from 48 per cent in February 2021.

Thirteen per cent say he has changed Labour for the worse, up from four per cent, with 39 per cent saying “made no difference,” a rise from 35 per cent.

A majority, 55 per cent, describe Sir Keir as “indecisive,” twice the 28 per cent figure three years ago, with 29 per cent saying he is “decisive”, far lower than the previous 46 per cent.

A third believe the party under Sir Keir has done a good job in “giving you a reason to vote Labour”, with 45 per cent saying a bad job, with the respective figures in 2021 being 35 per cent to 37 per cent.

Three in ten are positive about Labour under Sir Keir setting out a clear alternative to the current Government to voters, with 47 per cent unimpressed that he has done this.

However, this is an improvement for him since the respective findings in July 2021 which was 59 per cent “bad job” and 18 per cent “good job”.

The poll comes amid increasing focus on Labour’s policies including on a Gaza ceasefire and its scaling back of its £28 billion green economy plan.

Half of adults say they don’t know what Sir Keir stands for, unchanged from January, and compared to 46 per cent for Rishi Sunak.

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos, said: “Of course, overall Labour remains in a strong position, helped by Conservative weaknesses and public concerns about the state of the country, but these findings do show why Labour is worried about being complacent.

“Keir Starmer has improved perceptions of the party since he became leader, but he has faced a difficult few weeks which is reflected in a drop in his personal ratings, as well as more long-standing questions over whether the public knows what he stands for.

“However, so far this isn’t stopping Labour building a big lead in voting intentions, while on key issues such as the economy and public services they lead the Conservatives even if there isn’t a lot of enthusiasm.”

* Ipsos UK interviewed 1,004 adults in Britain by phone between February 21 and 28. Data are weighted. Full details at ipsos.com/en-uk

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