New Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s post-election honeymoon period is over, according to Opinium’s latest poll.
Starmer’s approval ratings have seen a 16% point dip since Labour’s landslide election, with his net approval now at just +3%. Currently, 35% approve of the Prime Minister, compared to 32% who disapprove.
The leaders of the other two main parties have also seen dips in the last fortnight, although not as dramatically.
Money woes
In her statement earlier this week the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said that the government was facing a “£22 billion hole in the public finances” and that difficult decisions had to be made to reduce spending.
Her decision to scrap the universal fuel benefit for pensioners who don’t receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits was unpopular, with 49% thinking it was the wrong decision. This may be the reason for her drop in approval ratings this week, plummeting 23 points from a net approval of +11 % post-election to -12% this week.
On the other announcements tested, views were generally favourable of the decision. The Government has support for its proposed 3% windfall tax on the profits of energy companies (63% thinking), the removal of “non-dom” tax status (59%), and charging VAT on private education (56%).
Despite the bleak view of public finances painted this week, UK adults remain in favour of increasing funding for public sector wages, with the vast majority agreeing that the increase in pay for junior doctors/other NHS workers, teachers and the armed forces is a good idea (71%, 65% and 69% respectively).
James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium said: “Keir Starmer’s post-election honeymoon period appears to be waning, with his approval ratings falling, although still remaining positive overall.
“Most of the policy announcements Rachel Reeves has spoken about this week to plug the hole in public finances have been viewed as the right decision, and there is public support to raise public sector pay. However, scrapping universal winter fuel payments has not been a popular decision, and appears to have contributed to the Chancellor’s plummet in approval ratings.
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