UK’s Starmer Faces Record Unpopularity Amid Economic, Immigration Woes
Just 15 months after leading Labour to a landslide victory with 411 seats in July 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is grappling with unprecedented unpopularity.
Polls, including a recent Sunday Times MRP survey, rank him as the most unpopular prime minister on record, with only 13% of voters satisfied, according to Ipsos.
Labour’s support has plummeted to 20%, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has surged to 35%, capitalizing on public discontent over the economy and immigration.
Economic Challenges
Starmer’s government faces mounting economic pressures.
A rise in National Insurance tax for employers has triggered job cuts, particularly in the hospitality sector, contributing to rising unemployment and falling job vacancies.
Despite a $200 billion investment from U.S. firms, manufacturing output is contracting at its fastest rate since March.
James Bentley, director at Financial Markets Online, noted that weak demand and high wage pressures are creating a “toxic” environment for businesses.
Labour’s pre-election promise to restore public services, like the NHS, has been hampered by limited revenue after ruling out income tax increases, forcing reliance on less popular tax measures.
Immigration and Political Rivalries
Undocumented immigration remains a critical challenge, with tens of thousands arriving annually on small boats, fueling public frustration.
Starmer’s tough rhetoric, including warnings of Britain becoming “an island of strangers,” has drawn criticism for echoing Farage’s narrative, risking alienation of Labour’s progressive base.
At Labour’s recent conference in Liverpool, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced doubling the qualification period for indefinite leave to remain to 10 years, a move critics argue mirrors Reform’s policies.
Meanwhile, Farage’s pledge to abolish settled status for migrants has been labeled “racist” by Starmer, sharpening political divides.
Labour’s broader vision of building 1.5 million homes by 2029 faces setbacks, with planning approvals at a record low this year.