Labour Conference Speech Backfires for Keir Starmer, Polls Show Decline

The recent Labour Party conference has resulted in a significant decline in popularity for its leader, Keir Starmer, according to a new poll conducted by Opinium. The conference, which aimed to position Labour against Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party, instead sparked controversy and speculation about Starmer’s future as party leader.

Starmer delivered a speech during the conference that branded Farage an “enemy,” but this did not resonate positively with the electorate. Following the event, Opinium reported a drop in Starmer’s net approval rating to -44%, a decline of 3%. This decline reflects broader dissatisfaction among voters, with only 20% stating that Labour had a good week during the conference, while half of those surveyed, or 50%, felt the opposite.

The polling data indicates that Starmer is trailing Farage in terms of public perception regarding who would make the better Prime Minister. Currently, 31% of respondents believe that Farage is the better option, compared to 26% for Starmer. This shift represents a three-point gain for Farage since the conference, highlighting a growing concern for Labour as it grapples with internal and external challenges.

Polling also revealed that Starmer’s conference speech was viewed negatively by more voters than positively. Specifically, 34% of respondents had a negative view of the speech, while only 23% reacted positively. Interestingly, Labour voters showed more support, with 45% indicating that Starmer performed well, compared to 19% who disagreed.

The conference week brought a noticeable decline in various metrics concerning Labour’s public perception. The party’s alignment with voters’ views dropped by five points, resulting in a net score of -34%. Additionally, Labour’s representation of public sentiment fell by four points, landing at a net score of -38%. A significant 65% of voters expressed that Labour is failing to rebuild trust in politics, while 61% believe the party does not offer hope or optimism, and 59% see it as lacking competence in governance.

Perceptions of optimism also favor Farage over Starmer. While 39% of voters view Farage as optimistic about Britain’s future, only 32% ascribe the same sentiment to Starmer. However, it is noteworthy that the same percentage of voters perceive Farage as pessimistic about the future.

As the Conservative Party prepares for its own conference in Manchester, leader Kemi Badenoch faces challenges of her own, with her net approval remaining steady at -22%. Among Conservative voters, only 38% express approval of her performance, while 21% disapprove.

The results of the Opinium poll highlight a turbulent moment for the Labour Party as it seeks to regain footing in the political landscape, particularly in the face of a resurgent Reform UK under Farage’s leadership. As the political climate evolves, both parties will need to strategize effectively to engage a disillusioned electorate.