Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has surged ahead of PM Rishi Sunak by a record-breaking 13 points in a recent poll assessing the public's perception of the most capable Prime Minister in the UK. Conducted by Ipsos exclusively for the Standard, the poll paints a commanding picture for Labour, with the party enjoying a formidable 22-point lead over the Conservatives.
The survey reveals that if an election were held tomorrow, nearly half of respondents (49%) would support Sir Keir's party, compared to just 27% for the Tories. In terms of capability, 39% of respondents favoured Sir Keir for the role of Prime Minister, marking a four-point increase since October, while only 26% backed Sunak, signalling a five-point decline.
Despite Prime Minister Sunak's ambitions for a General Election in the latter half of the year, Tory hopes hinge on economic improvements resonating with voters. However, Ipsos' Economic Optimism Index shows only marginal improvement, with 24% expecting better economic conditions in the next year, up five points from November.
Moreover, dissatisfaction with Sunak persists, with 66% expressing dissatisfaction, though Labour's Sir Keir also faces criticism, with 48% dissatisfied. While Tory strategists interpret these findings as evidence of Sir Keir's failure to solidify support, voter attitudes appear to be firming up, challenging the notion of Labour's lead being easily swayed.
The electorate's decisive stance is evident, with 48% having already made up their minds on party allegiance, up from 42% in December. Labour's popularity has surged by eight points since December, now standing at 49%, while the Tories saw a modest increase of three points, reaching 27%.
However, smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK have faced setbacks, with dwindling support. Labour frames the upcoming election as an opportunity for renewal, a sentiment echoed by 69% of respondents who believe it's time for a change. Key issues dominating voter concerns include healthcare, inflation, the economy, immigration, and education.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, Labour's ascendancy underscores a growing appetite for change among voters, setting the stage for a potentially transformative electoral landscape in the UK.
What is more interesting to note are the rumours that are doing rounds that the Labour Party will be visiting India sometime soon shortly and that Sir Starmer will be a part of the delegation. He has time and again reiterated his stance to ‘reset’ India-UK relations with the Labour Party, and should they come to power, there are an array of policies, inheritance taxes and private school fee revisions waiting to be re-assessed.
Reset or not, meanwhile, the Tories are reportedly set to lock the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Reports suggest that a delegation of the UK team is in India, closing the FTA in its final stage. A majority of the issues in the proposed FTA between India and the UK are either finalised or at an advanced stage of talks, said one of the two persons mentioned above. Both of them declined to be identified. “Both sides are hoping to conclude the negotiations soon," this person said, adding that the negotiations with the UK were heading in the right direction. The UK’s delegation of about a dozen members includes high-ranking government officials to resolve some sticky issues in the final deliberations, this person added. Nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see the aftermath and renewal of ties across the globe as the UK, the US and India are all set to witness their much-awaited general elections in 2024.
