Boris Johnson’s approval rating has fallen by seven points in less than a fortnight, as rival Keir Starmer’s popularity continues to grow, latest polling figures show.
By contrast, the number backing Starmer rose from 22% to 27% in the same period. The increase in the Labour leader’s popularity follows a series of strong performances against Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Starmer’s questioning has left the PM “rattled”, according to The New European. Indeed, “Johnson was left looking exposed and diminished” after their first Commons encounter, says The Guardian.
The swing in popularity also coincides with a drop in public approval for the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
YouGov data “shows that at the end of last week 49% thought the government was doing badly, and 47% that it was doing well”, reports Sky News.
A separate Kantar poll found that 43% of those surveyed rated the government’s response to the health crisis as “fairly or very poor, up from 30% in April”, says Reuters.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Yet there is still a significant gap between the two parties in terms of overall support, with the Tories well ahead.
The Times reports that when asked who they would vote for if there was an election tomorrow, 48% of survey respondents chose the Conservatives, while 33% chose Labour.
-
Political cartoons for January 4Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a resolution to learn a new language, and new names in Hades and on battleships
-
The ultimate films of 2025 by genreThe Week Recommends From comedies to thrillers, documentaries to animations, 2025 featured some unforgettable film moments
-
Political cartoons for January 3Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include citizen journalists, self-reflective AI, and Donald Trump's transparency
-
Alaa Abd el-Fattah: should Egyptian dissident be stripped of UK citizenship?Today's Big Question Resurfaced social media posts appear to show the democracy activist calling for the killing of Zionists and police
-
Is Keir Starmer being hoodwinked by China?Today's Big Question PM’s attempt to separate politics and security from trade and business is ‘naïve’
-
Nigel Farage’s £9mn windfall: will it smooth his path to power?In Depth The record donation has come amidst rumours of collaboration with the Conservatives and allegations of racism in Farage's school days
-
ECHR: is Europe about to break with convention?Today's Big Question European leaders to look at updating the 75-year-old treaty to help tackle the continent’s migrant wave
-
Is a Reform-Tory pact becoming more likely?Today’s Big Question Nigel Farage’s party is ahead in the polls but still falls well short of a Commons majority, while Conservatives are still losing MPs to Reform
-
Asylum hotels: everything you need to knowThe Explainer Using hotels to house asylum seekers has proved extremely unpopular. Why, and what can the government do about it?
-
Will Rachel Reeves’ tax U-turn be disastrous?Today’s Big Question The chancellor scraps income tax rises for a ‘smorgasbord’ of smaller revenue-raising options
-
Will the public buy Rachel Reeves’s tax rises?Today’s Big Question The Chancellor refused to rule out tax increases in her televised address, and is set to reverse pledges made in the election manifesto
