Labour’s Lead Narrows to a Sliver: Poll Reveals Just One Point Advantage Over Tories Amid Controversy and Declining Approval for Starmer

Poll indicates Labour's advantage over Conservatives narrows to a mere point

Recent survey findings reveal that Sir Keir Starmer's personal approval has dipped below that of Rishi Sunak following several weeks of controversy regarding giveaways and contentious policy declarations.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 12:

A recent survey indicates that the Labour Party holds a slender one-point advantage over the Conservative Party, following several weeks of controversies related to giveaways.

According to the most recent voting intention survey by More in Common, 29% of respondents indicated they would support Labour, while 28% favored the Conservatives.

At the time of the July elections, there was an 11% difference in support between the two major parties. This margin has consistently narrowed during the three months since Labour took office.

Live updates: The contest for the next Conservative leader expected to turn contentious

In September, the difference narrowed to 4%, and currently, the Conservatives and Labour are separated by a mere one percentage point.

The significant drop in support for the Labour Party is primarily among voters aged 65 and older, which appears to be a response to the reduction in winter fuel allowances affecting 10 million retirees.

According to a More in Common survey conducted from October 5 to 7, Sir Keir Starmer's approval rating has sharply declined to -33, a significant drop from the +11 high he experienced following his electoral victory.

For the first time since January, Rishi Sunak's rating has fallen below -32.

A recent YouGov survey, published on Monday, indicates that 59% of respondents now characterize the Labour government as "sleazy."

Sir Keir's approval numbers, along with those of his administration, are suffering due to a string of contentious policy choices and, more recently, a controversy surrounding perks accepted by Sir Keir and his senior staff.

The situation has led to Sir Keir reimbursing £6,000 for event tickets and attire purchased for his spouse, alongside the departure of his top aide, ex-government worker Sue Gray.

She resigned on Sunday following several weeks of internal criticisms, during which her competence and influence were undermined by fellow staff at Number 10 and civil servants who claimed she failed to manage the escalating scandal over improper gifts.

Morgan McSweeney, who previously directed the party's campaigns and orchestrated the significant victory in the July elections, will participate in his inaugural cabinet meeting as chief of staff this Tuesday, taking over from his predecessor.

He aims to suppress unrest among Sir Keir's closest advisors, although supporters of Ms. Gray are displeased with her departure.

Learn more: Insight: The Prime Minister and his crew face a significant task to restore stability.

For an optimal video viewing experience, it is recommended to use the Chrome browser

A confidant of Ms. Gray informed The Times that she had suffered at the hands of a "rogue faction" of top male advisors who perceived her as a threat.

"The source, who chose to remain unnamed, suggested that Starmer was either unaware of the activities or aware and permitted them to continue. Both scenarios, they noted, reflect poorly on him."

"It's untenable to allow numerous unrestrained special advisers to overthrow a chief of staff."

👉 Click here to subscribe to the Politics podcast by Jack and Sam on your preferred podcast platform 👈

Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson has seized on the latest disputes to assert that the Conservative Party is guaranteed a victory in the upcoming general election, should Sir Keir maintain his current leadership approach.

In a discussion on LBC, he expressed that voters anticipated a government similar to Tony Blair's, yet he noted that Starmer is leading with a leftist approach. He cited the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and the implementation of pay raises for public sector employees as examples of this shift.

When questioned about the possibility of the Conservatives securing a victory in the upcoming election, Mr. Johnson responded confidently, "I believe they will. At this current pace, it's undeniable."

Associated Subjects

Footer of Sky News

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Channels of Sky

Additional Sky Websites