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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Daniel Boffey Chief reporter

Down and then out in Paris and London? Why Starmer isn’t the only one with a popularity problem

A collage of a rough sea with political leaders in a sinking boat named Approval Ratings, and others in life buoys or in a rowing boat
‘The three largest economies in Europe are being led by leaders who are regarded by their people with something close to contempt, polling suggests.’ Illustration: Guardian Design/Getty

“People hate you,” the adviser informed his leader. A think-piece in a daily newspaper noted that “almost everyone agrees on one thing: they don’t like him”.

The recent disastrous set of local election results in the UK built on Keir Starmer’s longstanding reputational problem: only 11% of Britons believe he has been a good or great prime minister, and nearly 60% believe he has been poor or terrible, according to polling by YouGov.

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