Rachel Reeves was dealt a fresh blow after new polling found half of Britons say she has been doing a bad job as Chancellor.

Just 15% said the Chancellor had done well in the Ipsos survey, while the rest said neither or did not know.

Some 52% said Ms Reeves’s decisions have made them less confident about economic growth, including a third of Labour voters.

Two in three disagree with the controversial policy of stripping most pensioners of winter fuel payments.

Just over half – 53% – oppose the hike in employers’ national insurance contributions.

However, 72% support increasing NHS funding in the poll of 2,248 British adults carried out from February 7-11.

Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK Politics at Ipsos, said: “While increasing NHS funding is welcomed by a substantial majority, the public remain unconvinced about the overall direction of the economy under Rachel Reeves’ stewardship.

“The fact that half of Britons believe she is doing a bad job as Chancellor, coupled with widespread pessimism about rising unemployment, should sound alarm bells in Downing Street.

“This negativity is likely fuelled by the significant proportion of the public (50%) who feel less confident about economic growth following her policy decisions.

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“The Chancellor’s efforts to highlight investment and a long-term vision for growth have yet to resonate with voters, who are continuing to feel pressures from the cost of living.”

It comes as Ms Reeves has faced an ongoing backlash since her tax-hiking Budget last October.

There is speculation she could be moved out of 11 Downing Street in a reshuffle by Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking last week, Ms Reeves said:”It’s not possible to turn around more than a decade of poor economic performance in just a few months. But we are doing what is necessary to bring stability back to the economy.

“Reforming the economy, the planning system, regulation and pensions to encourage investment in our economy, which is the lifeblood of a successful economy. We need to go further and faster in doing that, to turn around our poor growth performance and to make working people better off.”