Labour has hit new lows across a range of measures
2025 has finally arrived, and Britons are divided on how the year ahead is looking. Asked in a Times survey in mid-December, 31% of Britons said they were optimistic for the year ahead, while 37% were pessimistic and 28% answered “neither”.
The start of the year also roughly coincides with the six month anniversary of Labour’s election victory. For this article, we have compiled a selection of new data from December to show where public opinion in the UK stands as we enter the new year.
Favourability ratings – Keir Starmer sinks to new low
Our polling for The Times in mid-December found that Keir Starmer’s net favourability rating had fallen to its lowest ever level (again), at -41. Two thirds of Britons said they had a negative view of the prime minister (66%) compared to only a quarter with a positive view (25%).
Government approval – Labour reaches lowest score to date
As with the prime minister’s personal approval ratings, the government over which he presides is likewise more unpopular than it has ever been. On 21-23 December, more than six in ten Britons (62%) say that they disapprove of the government’s record to date, while only 17% approve –
this figure remained unchanged in our latest poll on 28-30 December.
Even Labour voters are now divided on the government they elected, with 38% having a negative view and 34% a positive one.
Indeed, almost half of Labour voters (46%) said in our Times survey in mid-December that they had expected Labour to do well but have been disappointed. Just 28% consider them to be doing well – a figure which falls to 10% among the wider public.
Economy - confidence in Labour sinks further, especially among Labour voters
On both inflation and the economy more broadly, approval of Labour’s performance has again reached new lows. Two thirds now say the government are handling inflation poorly (68%), and 71% say the same of
the wider economy.
