According to Ipsos figures, Blair's job satisfaction rating jumped from 51% before the 1997 election to 65% immediately after. It didn’t consistently return to pre-election levels until 2000.
Starmer similarly saw an increase in his favourability rating following the 2024 general election. On 5-8 July, YouGov recorded an eight-point increase in Britons with a positive view of Starmer since before the election, rising to 44%.
However, our latest poll suggests Starmer’s honeymoon period may be ending. Four in ten Britons (40%) now have a favourable view of the new prime minister, down four points from the survey on 17-18 July, while 49% have an unfavourable view, up five points.
This shift means Starmer’s net favourability has dropped from ±0 two weeks ago, his highest post-election score, to -9. Despite this, it is still higher than his pre-election ratings (he scored -18 in our final poll two days before voting day).
Recent challenges for Starmer include the stabbings and subsequent riots in Stockport, public disorder in Leeds, a rebellion over the two-child benefit cap, and additional spending cuts to address a £22bn shortfall in public finances. These issues have also impacted Rachel Reeves' ratings.
Starmer’s decline in ratings mainly comes from Labour voters. While the majority still view him favourably, at 79%, this is an eight-point drop since the election. Negativity from Labour voters has increased by five points to 15%.
Conversely, Conservative voters are slightly more positive about Starmer. One in six (18%) have a favourable view, up seven points since the election, though 78% still hold a negative view.
Other key Labour figures have also seen their popularity decline, particularly Rachel Reeves. Following her announcement of spending cuts, Reeves' unfavourable rating has risen twelve points to 37% since mid-July. The portion with a favourable view remains largely unchanged, with a one-point decline to 26%, suggesting she has made a negative first impression with many Britons.
Unlike Starmer, Reeves’ decline in popularity comes mostly from non-Labour voters. Unfavourability among Labour voters increased by five points, while among Reform UK voters it rose by 10 points, 12 points among Lib Dem voters, and 25 points among Conservative voters.
New home secretary Yvette Cooper has also seen an increase in negative sentiment since mid-July, from 26% to 32%, with positive views remaining effectively unchanged, down one point to 21%.
There have been minor shifts in negativity towards foreign secretary David Lammy, now at 31%, up three points, and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, whose unfavourable rating increased three points to 40%.
Conservative leadership contestants: the unknown and the unpopular
Our latest favourability survey included all six Conservative leadership contenders.
Priti Patel is the only politician in the contest familiar to more than half the public. However, she is viewed negatively by two-thirds of Britons (67%), with only 16% having a favourable view, giving her the lowest net score at -51.
James Cleverly is the only other Tory leadership hopeful known to more than half the public, though only 56%. He is more unpopular than not, with 15% having a favourable view and 41% an unfavourable one.
Other candidates are largely unfamiliar to the public. Kemi Badenoch, with a high media profile, is liked by 11% and disliked by 37%. Tom Tugendhat is popular with 13% and unpopular with 24%. Robert Jenrick is disliked by 27% and liked by 8%, while Mel Stride is disliked by 18% and liked by 4%.
The Conservative leadership contest will be decided by party members. A recent YouGov survey of party members found Kemi Badenoch in the lead before the final list was confirmed.
Among 2024 Tory voters, James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat stand out with net favourability ratings of +16 and +15, respectively. Cleverly is viewed positively by 42% of Tory voters, with 26% holding a negative view. Tugendhat is liked by 32% and disliked by 17%. Badenoch is divisive, with 33% favourable and 29% unfavourable views.
Priti Patel is the most unpopular among Tory members, with 38% having a positive view and 49% a negative one, giving her a net favourability rating of -11. Suella Braverman, who declined to stand, is similarly unpopular with 34% positive and 47% negative views.