Starmer’s approval rating at lowest on record amid cronyism scandal

New poll suggests the appointment of Labour Party loyalists to senior roles in the Civil Service is affecting public goodwill towards the PM

Sir Keir Starmer’s approval rating has plummeted to its lowest level on record amid a growing cronyism scandal.
A new poll shows almost two thirds of voters think the Government is more interested in serving its own interests than those of ordinary people.
According to the survey, carried out by More in Common this week, Sir Keir’s personal approval rating has plunged to a record low of minus 16 – a drop of 27 points from his post-election high of plus 11.
It comes after the Government was hit by a row over cronyism, with the Prime Minister facing questions over the appointments of several party loyalists to senior roles within the Civil Service.
More worryingly for No 10, the poll suggests the scandal is starting to cut through to voters and affect their views of Sir Keir.
Of those surveyed, 63 per cent said they thought his government was more “interested in helping themselves and their allies” than ordinary people.
More than half (53 per cent) also said they thought Labour was somewhat or very corrupt, compared with two thirds who said the same of the Tories.
More than four in 10 believe both Labour and the Tories are “equally likely to make corrupt decisions or give senior roles to their friends and allies”.
Luke Tryl, the UK director of More in Common, said the results suggested voters were “somewhat sceptical about Starmer’s country before party pledge”.
He added: “Part of the challenge for Labour surrounds perception of corruption in politics. The mood remains very much one of a pox on all your houses.”
The polling also shows that Sir Keir is facing anger among voters – particularly older ones – over his decision to means-test the winter fuel allowance.
More than four in five (82 per cent) of those over 75 oppose the move, though that proportion drops to just over a third (36 per cent) among the 18-24 bracket.
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, defended the change on Wednesday, although she insisted that it was “not a decision I wanted to make”.
She told broadcasters: “It was a decision that I had to make in incredibly challenging circumstances to put our public finances on a firm footing.”