Labour’s lead in the polls over the Tories has shrunk to just one point, following a turbulent start to Sir Keir Starmer’s tenure in government. Despite the Prime Minister’s efforts to address the chaos by accepting the resignation of his chief of staff Sue Gray, the latest survey conducted by More in Common for Politico shows Labour at 29%, with the Conservative Party closely behind at 28%. Reform UK stands at 19%, the Lib Dems at 11%, the Green Party at 7%, and the SNP at 2%.
This significant shift in support over the past three months marks a stark contrast to the period leading up to the election, where Labour consistently held a 20-point lead over the Tories. The aftermath of Labour’s historic victory has been marred by internal conflicts, controversies surrounding gifts to the Prime Minister and senior Cabinet members, and concerns about the government losing control of its agenda.
Sir Keir has made attempts to regain control by announcing measures to limit future gifts and repay some received gifts. However, mounting criticism of his administration reached a climax when the Prime Minister was compelled to overhaul his top team. The reshuffle involved appointing Morgan McSweeney as the new chief of staff and James Lyons, a former journalist from the Mirror working with the NHS, to lead a new strategic communications team.
Amidst these changes, former communications chief for Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell, acknowledged challenges but stopped short of deeming the situation irrecoverable. However, others like John McTernan, who previously worked with Tony Blair, have criticised Sir Keir’s leadership, describing the government as having “completely lost grip” and delivering “drift” instead of change.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy defended the government’s actions during the first 100 days, citing accelerated support to Ukraine and progress on initiatives like GB Energy and resolving disputes with junior doctors. The survey, which polled 2,023 British adults between 5 and 7 October, has prompted analysis and discussions within the Labour Party.
The Labour Party has not yet provided a formal response to the survey findings. The developments within the party and its standing against the Conservative Party continue to be closely monitored as the political landscape evolves.