As 2025 begins, the political landscape in the UK reveals a challenging start for Labour, six months into their government. Recent polling data from December paints a sobering picture of public sentiment, offering insights into favourability ratings, government approval, and key concerns dominating the national conversation.

 

 

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader and prime minister, faces a stark decline in his personal favourability. According to polling conducted for *The Times* in mid-December, Starmer’s net favourability reached a new low of -41. A significant majority of Britons (66%) expressed a negative view of the prime minister, while only 25% held a positive perception. This marks a continuing trend of diminishing public confidence in Starmer’s leadership.

 

 

On the Conservative side, Kemi Badenoch, the recently appointed Tory leader, is also experiencing a decline in public sentiment as familiarity with her grows. In early November, 39% of Britons were undecided about Badenoch. However, by December, this figure dropped to 33%, and her net favourability rating fell from -20 to -31.  

 

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, remains a divisive figure. His favourability numbers have remained relatively stable, with 28% of Britons viewing him positively and 62% unfavourably, giving him a net rating of -34. Despite this, Farage poses a significant threat to the Conservative Party, as 45% of their 2024 voters hold a favourable view of him, although Badenoch’s 55% approval among Tory voters still provides a buffer.

 

The broader perception of Labour's government mirrors Starmer’s personal ratings, with approval at its lowest point since taking office. A late-December survey revealed that 62% of Britons disapprove of the government’s record, while only 17% approve. Among Labour’s own voters, opinions are mixed, with 38% disapproving and 34% expressing approval.  

 

Disappointment runs deep among Labour’s base. Nearly half (46%) of Labour voters surveyed in December said the party’s performance had not met their expectations, while only 28% felt the government was doing well. This sentiment is even more pronounced among the general public, where just 10% believe Labour is performing satisfactorily.  

 

Public concerns reflect enduring challenges. The economy remains the most pressing issue, cited by 52% of Britons as a top concern. Immigration and health follow closely, at 46% and 40%, respectively. These priorities vary significantly across party lines. For Labour voters, the economy and health dominate equally, with 55% and 53% prioritizing these issues, while immigration ranks lower at 28%. Conversely, immigration is the primary concern for Tory voters, with 71% listing it as a top issue, followed by the economy at 59% and health at 33%.

 

As Labour embarks on its first full year in government, the data underscores the significant hurdles it faces in aligning public expectations with policy delivery. While the economy, immigration, and health remain focal points for the electorate, restoring faith in leadership and government performance will be critical in shaping public opinion in the months to come.

 

Based on a report by YouGov Public Data 2024-01-04

 

 

Well, Starmer can't fix everything within one year what was left shattered and scattered by erratic Tory leaders.

Starmer & Reeves will be gone by June at the latest.

 

Streeting and Rayner are already positioning themselves.

 

It will be too little too late. The damage will have been done and will be irreversable. IMF bailout to follow.

 

 

58 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

Starmer & Reeves will be gone by June at the latest.

 

Streeting and Rayner are already positioning themselves.

 

It will be too little too late. The damage will have been done and will be irreversable. IMF bailout to follow.

 

 

What damage???

You're talking about the decade long Tory BS? 

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

What damage???

You're talking about the decade long Tory BS? 

 

The damage caused by the Labour budget of October 2024.

 

The full effects will not be felt until April, when the

 

1. Rise in minimum wage kicks in.

 

2. The rise in employer NI kicks in

 

3. The reduction in NI threshold from £9000 down to £5000 kicks in.

 

And people start losing their jobs, and the double whammy of less tax reciepts and more welfare benefit payments kick in.

 

Its not rocket science or hard to work out. Unless you are Rachel from Customer Complains

 

45 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The damage caused by the Labour budget of October 2024.

 

The full effects will not be felt until April, when the

 

1. Rise in minimum wage kicks in.

 

2. The rise in employer NI kicks in

 

3. The reduction in NI threshold from £9000 down to £5000 kicks in.

 

And people start losing their jobs, and the double whammy of less tax reciepts and more welfare benefit payments kick in.

 

Its not rocket science or hard to work out. Unless you are Rachel from Customer Complains

 

Ah, and the misery in the budget happened within 6 months? Since Starmer is in power? Ridiculous 🤣. It was in fact the result of bad ruling Tory's clowns in the past.

23 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Ah, and the misery in the budget happened within 6 months? Since Starmer is in power?

 

That misery will not start until April, for the reasons that I highlighted above.

 

But in the 6 months months that Labour have been in power, GDP growth has went to zero and probably negative.

 

Not bad going considering GDP growth Q1 & 2 was 1.2%

 

 

20 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That misery will not start until April, for the reasons that I highlighted above.

 

But in the 6 months months that Labour have been in power, GDP growth has went to zero and probably negative.

 

Not bad going considering GDP growth Q1 & 2 was 1.2%

 

 

Are you aware that the geopolitical situation changed?? 

The not growing GDP had nothing to do first-hand with Starmer but with wrong decisions by former Tory clowns when ruling.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

The not growing GDP had nothing to do first-hand with Starmer but with wrong decisions by former Tory clowns when ruling.

 

Of course it is

 

Quote

UK factory output falls at fastest rate since February amid tax rise fears

 

Quote

S&P Global Market Intelligence, the data company that compiles the PMI, blamed government policy for the manufacturing squeeze.

Rob Dobson, a director at S&P Global, said: “Manufacturers are facing an increasingly downbeat backdrop. Business sentiment is now at its lowest for two years, as the new government’s rhetoric and announced policy changes dampen confidence and raise costs at UK factories and their clients alike.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/02/uk-factory-output-falls-at-fastest-rate-since-february-amid-tax-rise-fears

 

Time to open your eyes and face reality.

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Of course it is

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/02/uk-factory-output-falls-at-fastest-rate-since-february-amid-tax-rise-fears

 

Time to open your eyes and face reality.

Your view into govt economy is still poor. Sure, you a Tory and consequently you have to deny mistakes bY the former governments. 

Could you remember who promised to fund NHS with all the millions and billions saved by not contributing to EU ??? It would have been so necessary to fund NHS. 

And blame the automotive managers of blind eyes for the future. No electric cars, no battery factories, no chip factories.

And blame the former govt for not pushing the country to produce green energy.

In times of inflation the wages have to rise just to guarantee the poor a decent life.

 

9 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That misery will not start until April, for the reasons that I highlighted above.

 

But in the 6 months months that Labour have been in power, GDP growth has went to zero and probably negative.

 

Not bad going considering GDP growth Q1 & 2 was 1.2%

 

 

The UK GDP growth problem certainly did not start under the Labour government...

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/gdp-growth

 

Quote

Britain’s largest retailers are warning they could be forced to cut thousands of jobs this year as the industry braces for higher taxes and employment costs after a bleak Christmas shopping season.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/07/uk-retailers-cut-jobs-christmas-sales-growth-card-spending

 

Absolutely no-one saw that

 

1. Raising Employer NI contributions

 

2. Lowering the NI threshold from £9000 to £5000
 

would lead to people getting laid off.