A new Left-wing party led by Jeremy Corbyn would attract 10 per cent of voters and pose a fresh challenge for Sir Keir Starmer, a poll has found.
A survey by More in Common showed, if the ex-Labour leader were to front a new party, it would be backed by one in 10 voters.
At the same time, Labour’s share of the vote would drop from its current 23 per cent to 20 per cent – leaving Sir Keir’s party on the same level of support as the Tories.
In a further split on the Left of British politics, the Greens would drop from 9 per cent to 5 per cent if Mr Corbyn took the helm of a new party.
Meanwhile, the SNP would drop one percentage point to 2 per cent.
Yet, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK – who are mounting a stern challenge to both Labour and the Tories – would remain on 27 per cent in both scenarios.
The poll revealed the potential headache Sir Keir might face at the next general election as he attempts to remain as Prime Minister.
To stay in power, Labour would have to guard against leaking votes to Reform on the populist Right, as well as to a Mr Corbyn-fronted party on the populist Left.
Last month, Mr Corbyn reportedly raised the prospect of a potential new party being formed by the time of next year’s general election.
The veteran politician now sits as part of an independent alliance of pro-Palestinian MPs in the House of Commons after being kicked out of Labour by Sir Keir.
He was said to have told an event in Huddersfield: ‘This whole cause is coming together so that by next year’s local elections – long before that, I hope – we’re going to have something in place.’
An ally of Mr Corbyn, speaking about the prospect of a new party, told the New Statesman – which first published the poll results – there was a ‘large hole in politics’.
‘You can see it from the very low turnout figures, the high levels of volatility and Labour being in the low twenties,’ they added.
There has also been speculation about an electoral pact between a new left-wing party and the Greens.
Adrian Ramsay is currently seeking re-election as co-leader of the Green Party alongside fellow MP Ellie Chowns.
Current co-leader Carla Denyer has announced she would not stand again in order to focus on her work as an MP.
The Greens had four MPs elected to Parliament at last year’s general election, the best result the party has ever had at Westminster.
Zack Polanski, the party’s deputy leader and a member of the London Assembly, has also announced a leadership bid focused on transforming the Greens into an ‘eco-populism’ mass movement.
He has said the party needs to be more ‘bold’.