A majority of voters want to see Sir Keir Starmer replaced as Labour leader, damning new polling has found.The BMG Research survey found 51 per cent of respondents want the party to replace its current leader, while just one in five think he should remain in post.The Prime Minister’s personal standing has deteriorated to unprecedented levels, with his net satisfaction rating plunging to a record low of -49.Perhaps most concerning for Downing Street, Sir Keir has now lost favour even among those who voted Labour at the 2024 general election, recording a negative net satisfaction score of -8 with this crucial group for the first time.
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The Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has emerged as the standout choice to succeed Sir Keir, securing backing from 24 per cent of those who want a change of leadership.His support is particularly pronounced among voters who backed Labour in 2024 but now want the Prime Minister gone, with a third of this group naming him as their preferred successor.Mr Burnham also attracts support from nearly three in 10 Reform UK voters who favour a leadership change, suggesting he could potentially reclaim some ground lost to Nigel Farage’s party.However, the poll reveals considerable uncertainty about alternatives, with 23 per cent of those wanting change selecting “none of the above” when presented with a dozen potential candidates.This finding threatens to undermine claims from some allies of the Prime Minister that a leadership contest would alienate voters by triggering damaging internal party conflict.The poll results may also cast doubt on Downing Street’s decision to prevent Mr Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election on 26 February, a move that would have provided the mayor with a route back to Westminster and a potential leadership challenge.Speculation persists that Labour MPs could move against the Prime Minister should the party perform poorly in May’s local elections, which some view as a verdict on Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.The loss of support among 2024 Labour voters also challenges the argument made this week that Sir Keir possesses a personal mandate to remain in No10 for a full five-year term.LABOUR LEADERSHIP LATEST:Angela Rayner teases comeback to frontline politics as she takes swipe at Keir StarmerLabour MPs revolt against blocking Andy Burnham as activists demand PM reverses banNow LABOUR MPs rage at cancelled elections in major attack on Keir StarmerAmong the other contenders, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner each secured just 4 per cent support from voters seeking a change at the top.When measuring broader public perception, Mr Burnham stands alone as the only Labour figure tested with a positive favourability score of +6, compared to Mr Streeting at -11 and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood at -20.Ms Rayner fares worse still at -24, while Sir Keir’s -37 rating places him only marginally ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves on -40.BMG pollster Jack Curry observed: “Only one in five think Labour should keep Keir Starmer as leader, while around half want a new figure at the helm.”He noted that Burnham “was chosen by more than all other named candidates combined.”Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
