As Labour’s support craters and infighting intensifies, Nigel Farage is seizing momentum—leaving Keir Starmer’s leadership in freefall.
At a Glance
- Starmer’s approval rating sinks to record lows, with 70% of Britons viewing him unfavorably
- Only 59% of previous Labour voters still support the party
- Labour trails among working-class and male voters, with defections to Greens and Lib Dems
- Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surges past Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in popularity
- Starmer’s immigration stance stirs fierce internal and public backlash
Starmer’s Popularity Nosedives
Sir Keir Starmer’s government is confronting a legitimacy crisis just months into power. New polling shows nearly 70% of Britons now disapprove of the Prime Minister—an unprecedented slump that threatens to shatter Labour’s electoral mandate. Analysts like Sir John Curtice say the party’s situation is “uncharted territory,” noting, “We’ve never previously had a government starting with quite as low a share of the vote as Labour got in July.”
Watch a report: UK Poll Shock: Starmer Plummets, Farage Surges.
Even Labour’s base is fraying. A YouGov survey reveals just 59% of prior supporters still back the party. More troubling: 52% are considering defecting to the Greens or Liberal Democrats—a signal that Labour’s left flank is hemorrhaging support over Starmer’s centrist pivot and immigration policies.
Immigration Split Rattles Labour
Starmer’s firm posture on immigration—once aimed at wooing disillusioned Tory moderates—has backfired spectacularly. Critics inside and outside Labour accuse him of betraying the party’s progressive values. The backlash is visible: Labour is polling neck-and-neck with the Greens among its own 2024 voters, according to YouGov.
Labour insiders describe rising unease, particularly among younger MPs, who feel Starmer’s approach alienates core constituencies without bringing in new voters. As one strategist noted, “Even among their own voters, Labour are now no more popular than the Greens.”
Farage’s Comeback Gains Ground
Into this chaos steps Nigel Farage. The Reform UK leader is rapidly consolidating conservative dissatisfaction, even surpassing Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in some popularity measures. Farage’s straight-talking critiques of Starmer’s immigration record and economic management are drawing cheers from audiences and endorsements from right-leaning pundits.
“Very much enjoyed,” Farage quipped after a recent policy debate, channeling the confidence of a man who senses opportunity.
Reform UK, once seen as a fringe outfit, is now a formidable player reshaping Britain’s political landscape. Whether this wave can sustain long-term momentum or simply embarrass Labour at the polls remains to be seen.
For now, the political ground is shifting. Labour’s coalition is fracturing. Farage is on the rise. And the UK faces a new era of uncertainty—where no party can afford to take voter loyalty for granted.
