Sir Keir Starmer should be succeeded as Labour leader by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, an exclusive poll has found.
Mr Burnham, who has courted the Left by opposing the Government’s welfare cuts, has nearly three times the support of his nearest rival, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The research, by Tory former deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, puts Mr Burnham on 13 per cent among all voters, with Ms Rayner on five per cent.
They are followed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Among Labour voters, Mr Burnham is on 20 per cent, followed by Ms Rayner on 10 per cent.
This follows him attacking Government plans, saying: ‘There is no case in any scenario for cutting the support available to disabled people who are unable to work.’
Asked whether Labour is changing the country for better or worse, just 17 per cent think the situation is improving and 46 per cent say Britain is in a worse position.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who has courted the Left by opposing the Government’s welfare cuts, has nearly three times the support of his nearest rival, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour leader (Pictured: Burnham and Starmer)
The research, by Tory former deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, puts Mr Burnham on 13 per cent among all voters, with Ms Rayner (pictured) on five per cent
Voters are also sceptical that Sir Keir will strike a positive deal with Donald Trump in the tariff war, with 31 per cent confident Sir Keir will protect UK interests and only one in 20 saying they had a ‘great deal of confidence’ (Pictured: Starmer and Trump on February 27, 2025)
Voters are also sceptical that Sir Keir will strike a positive deal with Donald Trump in the tariff war, with 31 per cent confident Sir Keir will protect UK interests and only one in 20 saying they had a ‘great deal of confidence‘.
A total of 58 per cent are pessimistic. But 60 per cent say Brexit has given the UK an advantage and was the most important factor in Mr Trump’s decision to put lower tariffs on UK imports than EU goods.
Asked if strains in the Atlantic alliance meant the UK should seek a closer relationship with China, 49 per cent said Britain should keep its dealings with China as they are. Sixteen per cent want more contact and 17 per cent less.
Ahead of next month’s local elections, Sir Keir remains top of the ‘best Prime Minister’ ratings, with 33 per cent, ahead of Reform’s Nigel Farage on 20 per cent and Tory Kemi Badenoch on nine.
