Starmer popularity drops as more than half think nation 'moving in wrong direction'
The Independent|August 19, 2024
The PM's personal rating is down from +7 to 0 but he is still more popular than the Opposition leader
HOLLY BANCROFT
Starmer popularity drops as more than half think nation 'moving in wrong direction'

More than half of people think Britain is "moving in the wrong direction", according to a new poll that shows a drop in favourability of Sir Keir Starmer and his cabinet.

The poll by Ipsos, which was conducted between 9-12 August, shows that people still prefer Labour leaders to Conservative ones but that there has been an increase in criticism of the new government. Fifty-two per cent of adults polled said that they thought Britain was heading in the wrong direction, while 22 per cent said things were heading in the right direction.

Sir Keir remains the most popular politician asked about, with 38 per cent of people thinking of him favourably compared to 38 per cent unfavourably. This is however a drop compared to his ratings just after the election. His net favourability rating has now gone from plus 7 to 0. Conservative leader Rishi Sunak is on a net rating of minus 10.

This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of The Independent.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 19, 2024 edition of The Independent.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE INDEPENDENTView All
Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick
The Independent

Carse justifies England faith as the archetypal bold pick

If you won a boxing match after your opponent continually punched themselves in the face, how much credit can you take?

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine
The Independent

Tenacious Diallo the key to Amorim pressing machine

Old Trafford has not seen anything like this before.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls
The Independent

Gold King Cole packs the Bridge with merry old souls

In the 83rd minute, the ball rolled to the feet of Cole Palmer in a bubble of space outside Aston Villa's box, and the crowd snapped to attention.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola
The Independent

Vibrant Anfield marks the changing of the Guardiola

There was a lull in the noise, a break in the Anfield atmosphere, when a defiant chant emerged from a corner near Stefan Ortega’s goal.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?
The Independent

What is so daunting about Spain's new data checks?

Q You have written about the new “red tape” for visitors to Spain. So, as well as your usual passport details you will give a contact number, address and email. Not exactly the Spanish Inquisition, is it?

time-read
1 min  |
December 02, 2024
Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan
The Independent

Sectarian clashes claim at least 130 lives in Pakistan

At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims, local officials said.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds
The Independent

Coalition government likely in Ireland as count proceeds

Fianna Fail say decisions on power-sharing for another day’

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda
The Independent

How Syria's forgotten war is back on the world's agenda

Many believed the country was lost in an unsolvable conflict, until everything changed in a matter of days, writes Bel Trew

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance
The Independent

Assad regime scrambles to halt Syrian rebels’ advance

Civilians reportedly killed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes

time-read
4 mins  |
December 02, 2024
Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die
The Independent

Mother of poisoning victim says she knew she would die

Lawyer Simone White succumbed to the effects of methanol while backpacking in Laos with two of her childhood friends

time-read
2 mins  |
December 02, 2024