Sir Keir Starmer is facing fury from farmers and pensioners in a difficult first five months in Number 10.
Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer led Labour back to power with a landslide victory in the General Election just five months ago – but the honeymoon didn’t last long, with growing fury over the government’s handling of various key issues.
The decision from his Chancellor Rachel Reeves to announce millions of pensioners would lose their winter fuel payments long before the party’s Budget was unveiled proved to be a toxic move that brought widespread criticism – despite the Government’s insistence that it was a necessary cost-cutting measure given the economic turmoil it inherited from the Tories.
Labour made the case that those in need would still be supported as those on benefits and pension credit would remain eligible, but it proved to be the first of a series of divisive moves from the new administration.
Other major rows have erupted in the months that followed, including outrage among farmers over the decision in the Budget to limit inheritance tax relief for farms to £1m, while freezing the annual agricultural budget at £2.4billion in a bid to shore up the UK’s finances.
The argument from Number 10 that the “vast majority” of farmers wouldn’t be affected hasn’t moved many landowners, who are planning a third large-scale protest in central London against the interventions in January.
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In the past couple of months, Sir Keir has faced worrying indictments of his government’s approach, including an online petition calling for another general election to be held that reached one million signatures within days.
The call to action was started by small business owner Michael Westwood who told the Express he thinks voters feel “betrayed” by Labour and that the “promises that were told” ahead of the July election “looking nothing like” the reality.
Earlier this month, Sir Keir faced another blow when an Ipsos poll found 61% of Britons are dissatisfied with the him – his worst performance as Labour leader.
The pollster interviewed a representative sample of 1,028 adults aged 18+ across Great Britain, with interviews were conducted by telephone between November 27 and December 4.
How do you think the Prime Minister has performed so far, and do you think he’ll still be in post this time next year? Vote in our poll below.
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Meanwhile, though the next General Election remains years away, Labour is also facing a surge in support for Reform UK that could be disastrous for the party if it continues to increase.
A Techne UK Westminister Voting Intentions poll released on December 21 appears to confirm a once unthinkable three-way split opening up the top of UK politics between the two established parties and Reform, which the analysis suggesting Nigel Farage’s party is on 21%.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives were found to be on 26% with the Labour government on 27%.
The poll also suggests the Lib Dems are on 12% in terms of voting intention, while the Greens are at 7%.
Techne UK questioned 1,642 individuals across the UK, which is says ensured the results were weighted and representative of the population.
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