Prime Minister Keir Starmer's standing with the public has collapsed to an unprecedented low, according to a stark new poll released in the wake of the recent Budget. The survey reveals a dramatic slump in his personal approval ratings, placing him far behind his main political rivals.
Polling Details Show Starmer's Deepening Crisis
Exclusive polling conducted by Freshwater Strategy for City AM between 28 and 30 November 2025 has delivered a brutal verdict on the Labour leader's performance. The nationally representative survey of 1,558 eligible voters found Starmer's approval rating has cratered to a score of -47.
This figure represents a new historic low for the Prime Minister, dropping further from a previous record of -45 just one month earlier. In a direct comparison, both Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage are now preferred by voters as a potential Prime Minister over Starmer.
Opposition Leaders Gain Ground
While Starmer flounders, the leaders of the two main opposition parties have enjoyed a modest bounce in their ratings. Badenoch's approval improved from -15 in November to -8 in December. Nigel Farage also saw a slight uptick, moving from -13 to -12.
In a head-to-head contest between the two right-leaning figures, Badenoch emerges victorious. 40% of voters would back the Tory leader over Farage, giving her a four-point lead. However, a significant 19% of respondents remained unsure or said they would back neither candidate in such a match-up.
Analysts suggest Badenoch's punchy performances at Prime Minister's Questions have contributed to this recovery. Recent parliamentary showdowns have focused on relations with China, the state of the UK economy, and Starmer's control over his Cabinet.
Broader Political Landscape and Electoral Pressure
Despite the Conservative leader's improved personal rating, the wider voting intention picture remains bleak for her party. Reform UK continues to lead significantly on 31% of the vote share, despite a slight dip. The Conservatives and Labour are virtually tied on 20% and 19% respectively.
The Liberal Democrats were the biggest climbers in party support, securing 15% of the voter share, while the Green Party trailed on 12%.
The poll also heaps immediate pressure on Keir Starmer. A substantial 69% of all voters agreed that a General Election should be called if he were to resign as Labour leader. Strikingly, this view is shared by 51% of current Labour voters. This sentiment intensifies the scrutiny on Starmer as he faces the prospect of sweeping defeats in crucial local council elections scheduled for May 2026.
Methodology note: Freshwater Strategy interviewed 1,558 eligible UK voters aged 18+ online. The margin of error is +/- 2.5%. Data is weighted to be representative. Freshwater Strategy are members of the British Polling Council.
