STARMER'S UNPOPULARITY LINKED TO LACK OF CLEAR GOVERNMENT DIRECTION

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chronic unpopularity stems partly from his perceived lack of clarity and absence of a coherent narrative about his government's direction, according to reporting from January. A voter interviewed in the Mancunian constituency of Gorton and Denton expressed strong dislike for Starmer but could not articulate specific reasons for his antipathy. Another interviewee stated: "He hasn't done what he said he'd do." The government's decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in Gorton and Denton was reported to have handed victory to the Green party.

Polling organisation Ipsos recorded Starmer's approval rating at minus 66, described as the lowest figure for a prime minister since the organisation began calculating such ratings. Former prime minister Liz Truss had not reached such a low figure. A chant describing Starmer in derogatory terms was reported at football stadiums and at January's world darts championships held at Alexandra Palace. Focus groups conducted by polling organisation More In Common described Starmer using terms including "jellyfish" and "doormat", with researchers expressing surprise at the levels of public mockery and negativity recorded.

Luke Tryl of More In Common stated that the intensity of public antipathy was unusual. The reporting suggests that Starmer's perceived blankness and lack of a clear governmental direction created space into which voters' broader frustrations with politics became projected. The combination of arbitrary public hostility toward politicians generally and specific dissatisfaction with Starmer's government messaging appeared to compound his unpopularity, according to the account.