Fewer than half of Labour voters are optimistic about the year ahead despite the Prime Minister’s vow to ‘fight for change’ in 2025, a new poll has revealed.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed the past 12 months as a ‘year of change’ and insisted Britain was already starting to see the fruits of a Labour government.
But new YouGov polling has revealed that just 31 per cent of the electorate are upbeat about the upcoming year, with 37 per cent feeling pessimistic.
There appears to be a particular disillusionment among voters who backed Labour in July’s general election – many who did so for the first time – casting doubt over whether the party can hold on to them in 2029.
Some 46 per cent of them said they ‘expected them to do well but have been disappointed’, while just over a third say they have done well so far. The Prime Minister’s own personal ratings show the problem appears to be with both party and leader, with 42 per cent of Labour voters saying they were disappointed.
The wider electorate see the party as ‘incompetent’, ‘dishonest’ and ‘unsuccessful’, according to the survey, with many feeling Sir Keir will fail to achieve the six ‘milestones’ he set out on housing, the NHS, education, policing, clean energy and economic growth.
On the economy, more voters – 24 per cent – prefer the Conservatives over Labour, who command the confidence of just 21 per cent of people on the matter. When Labour entered government, they led by nine points on the economy.
On immigration, they are trailing Reform by 13 per cent, suggesting Nigel Farage’s party may threaten Labour in constituencies which voted for Brexit.
Despite earning a commanding majority in the Commons last July, Labour’s popularity has continued to falter as the Prime Minister admitted to making ‘tough decisions’ to stabilise the economy.
This included slashing the Winter Fuel Allowance and imposing harsher inheritance tax laws on farmers.
A poll from More in Common earlier this week showed Labour would lose its majority and nearly 200 seats if an election were held now.
Party insiders are also concerned about next May’s local elections after data showed that Labour have lost more than one in five council by-elections since taking office.