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Support for Keir Starmer plunges to new low, poll suggests

Keir Starmer has so far failed to inspire the public - GETTY IMAGES
Keir Starmer has so far failed to inspire the public - GETTY IMAGES

Public support for Sir Keir Starmer has fallen to its lowest level since he was elected Labour leader, new polling suggests.

A survey released by Deltapoll on Monday found that Sir Keir’s net approval rating has crashed to zero, with Boris Johnson now enjoying a 10 per cent cushion over the opposition leader.

While the significant decline in Mr Johnson’s own standing in the middle of the pandemic coincided with a steady level of support for Sir Keir, their fortunes have since reversed as the covid-19 vaccines have rolled out.

Between 21-23 January and 24-26 February, Sir Keir’s approval rating has tumbled from 14 per cent, while Mr Johnson’s rating has increased from 1 per cent to 10 per cent.

Sir Keir is now 12 per cent down on his approval rating on 23 April, shortly after he saw off the pro-Corbyn MP Rebecca Long-Bailey and moderate rival Lisa Nandy to secure the Labour leadership.

The findings come amid mounting tensions within Labour over the party’s approach during the pandemic, with Sir Keir facing claims from the hard-Left that his “constructive” opposition is failing to cut through with the public.

Read more: What is the point of this vacuous and confused Labour Party?

Meanwhile, disquiet over Labour’s position on the economy continued on Monday, with Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, refusing to say when the party believed taxes should rise to cover the costs of the pandemic.

With the leadership’s refusal to back a widely anticipated hike in corporation tax challenged privately by senior frontbenchers, Ms Dodds appeared to soften the position by stating its opposition was to “immediate” changes.

In a speech hosted by Bloomberg, Ms Dodds added: “Over the last ten years Conservative governments have pulled the UK farther and farther away from the average corporation tax level of OECD [wealthy] nations,” she continued.

“That hasn’t boosted investment in the UK, we’ve not seen it growing at the speed it has in many other countries.

“We would look with interest at any longer-term plan that the Conservatives might set out to deal with that issue, especially if we also see action taken towards business rate.

“Should the chancellor be focused on imposing additional taxes right now? We don’t believe he should be focusing on that. He really should be focused on securing the recovery.”