Here’s the gist.
Sir Keir Starmer ends 2025 as the most unpopular British prime minister in polling history, while Rachel Reeves, his chancellor, plumbs similar depths of public dislike. But one thing still surprises the pollsters: the level of apparent hatred felt towards them.
Starmer and Reeves have made plenty of mistakes, as even their allies admit, and the change they promised has been slow in coming.
But for technocratic, low-key politicians, the level of opprobrium they attract from voters is striking. “I can normally understand where the public are coming from but I admit this is surprising,” said Luke Tryl, of the More in Common polling organisation.
“There’s a real dislike, even loathing of Starmer and Reeves.” “In focus groups, people say Starmer is a liar and only said what he thought he needed to say to get elected,” Tryl added. “Reeves is often deemed to be uncaring. People say she’s targeting people who can’t fight back.”
Another polling director, who declined to be named, said of Starmer: “For a rather dull and inoffensive politician, Starmer does generate remarkable levels of hate.”