A significant new poll has delivered a damaging blow to Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party, revealing that almost one third of British voters now perceive it as sleazier than the previous Conservative government. The YouGov survey, conducted this week, paints a troubling picture for the Prime Minister's administration as it grapples with the escalating scandal surrounding former minister Lord Peter Mandelson.
Damning Public Perception
The comprehensive survey of 2,210 participants found that 32% of voters consider Labour to be more "sleazy and disreputable" than the last Tory government. This marks a notable increase from May, when 28% held this view during Angela Rayner's second home controversy. Furthermore, more than a third of respondents viewed both major parties as equally sleazy, indicating widespread disillusionment with Westminster's ethical standards.
Leadership Under Fire
Perhaps most concerning for Downing Street, exactly half of those surveyed believe Sir Keir Starmer should resign and be replaced by a new leader. Only 24% expressed confidence in his continued leadership. The poll also revealed stark criticism of Starmer's handling of the Mandelson affair, with a mere 14% believing he has shown good decision-making throughout the crisis.
Government approval ratings have plummeted to just 14%, with a substantial 66% of voters actively disapproving of its performance. Nearly half of poll participants reported closely following the unfolding Mandelson scandal, while only 12% claimed unawareness of the controversy.
The Mandelson Investigation Intensifies
The poll findings coincide with dramatic police raids on Lord Mandelson's properties in London and Wiltshire. Scotland Yard has launched a full criminal investigation into the 72-year-old former business secretary for alleged misconduct in a public office, an offence carrying a potential life sentence.
Epstein Connection Deepens
Metropolitan Police officers executed search warrants at Mandelson's £7.6 million Regent's Park residence, purchased in 2011 following advice from convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Officers were observed collecting evidence including a blue box and large bag during the operation. The investigation follows explosive revelations about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, which continued even after the financier's imprisonment for child sex offences.
Damning email evidence suggests Mandelson repeatedly leaked confidential government plans to Epstein while serving as a Cabinet minister. One particularly shocking exchange appears to show the pair discussing sensitive negotiations over a £10 billion Ministry of Defence contract. Another email, sent on the day Epstein was released from prison, contains apparent jokes about celebrating with "two strippers," with Mandelson calling his friend a "naughty boy" for the suggestion.
Political Fallout
The scandal represents what political analysts describe as a "brutal blow" to both the government's credibility and Starmer's personal reputation. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hayley Sewart confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating: "Officers from the Met's Central Specialist Crime team are carrying out search warrants at two addresses related to misconduct in public office offences involving a 72-year-old man."
Lord Mandelson has previously suggested his sexual orientation kept him "separate from what Epstein was doing in the sexual side of his life," but this defence appears increasingly inadequate as evidence mounts. The criminal probe was initiated after both the current government and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown passed information to Metropolitan Police authorities.
As the investigation continues and public scrutiny intensifies, these poll results suggest significant erosion of trust in Labour's ethical standards, potentially reshaping the political landscape as Britain approaches future electoral contests.
