A damning new opinion poll has revealed that a majority of the British public believes Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves should resign from their posts.
Public Sentiment Turns Against Labour Leaders
The survey, conducted by Opinium, found that more than half of the public (56%) think Sir Keir should quit, with only 26% expressing a desire for him to remain in Number 10. The Chancellor faces an even starker picture, with 57% of respondents calling for her resignation and a mere 19% supporting her continuation in the role.
This grim polling for Labour's two most senior figures arrives just ahead of Ms Reeves's crucial Budget announcement, scheduled for 26 November. The Chancellor has paved the way for significant tax increases as the government confronts a multi-billion-pound black hole in the public finances.
A Crisis of Trust on the Economy
The poll highlights a profound crisis of confidence in the Prime Minister and Chancellor regarding economic matters. Less than a quarter (24%) of the public stated they trust Sir Keir on the economy, resulting in a net trust score of -41%. The situation is more severe for Ms Reeves, who is trusted on the economy by less than one in five (19%), giving her a net trust score of -48%.
This distrust extends even to those who voted for the party. Among 2024 Labour voters, a third (33%) want Sir Keir to resign. Support for the Chancellor is even weaker within her own electoral base, with only 42% of 2024 Labour voters backing her to remain in office, while 38% believe she should go.
Budget Anxiety and Broken Pledges
The context for this public discontent is the government's apparent U-turn on its pre-election tax promises. Ms Reeves has notably declined to reaffirm the pledge not to raise income tax, National Insurance, or VAT.
The public mood is one of expectation and disapproval. The survey showed that more than three-quarters (77%) of Britons anticipate tax rises. Furthermore, a significant majority of 61% believe it would be wrong for the Chancellor to raise these specific taxes due to the manifesto commitment. A majority of 58% also expect Labour's upcoming decisions on spending and taxation to be unfair.
James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium, offered a stark summary: 'As The Celebrity Traitors comes to an end, the public think it was in fact the Labour Party that were far from open and honest about their intentions at the last election.' He added, 'With big tax rises on the agenda, voters are getting ready to say, 'parting is such sweet sorrow, Rachel.''
