How is Starmer's government doing? Here's what 'end-of-term' report from voters says
First, here are the government's approval ratings - drifting downwards.
It didn't start particularly high. There has never been a honeymoon.
But here is the big change. Last year's Labour voters now disapprove of their own government. That wasn't true at the start - but is now.
And remember, it's easier to keep your existing voter coalition together than to get new ones from elsewhere.
So we have looked at where voters who backed Labour last year have gone now.
YouGov's last mega poll shows half of Labour voters last year - 51% - say they would vote for them again if an election was held tomorrow.
Around one in five (19%) say they don't know who they'd vote for - or wouldn't vote.
But Labour are also leaking votes to the Lib Dems, Greens and Reform.
These are the main reasons why.
A sense that Labour haven't delivered on their promises is top - just above the cost of living. Some 22% say they've been too right-wing, with a similar number saying Labour have "made no difference". Immigration and public services are also up there.
Now, YouGov asked people whether they think the cabinet is doing a good or a bad job, and combined the two figures together to get a net score.
John Healey and Bridget Phillipson are on top, but the big beats of Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves bottom.
But it's not over for Labour.
Here's one scenario - 2024 Labour voters say they would much prefer a Labour-led government over a Conservative one.
But what about a Reform UK-led government? Well, Labour polls even better against them - just 11% of people who voted Labour in 2024 want to see them enter Number 10.
Signs of hope for Keir Starmer. But as Labour MPs head off for their summer holidays, few of their voters would give this government an A*.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
8 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour's net-zero ‘flight tax' set to raise cost of family holiday
Labour's 'flight tax' on airlines will add more than £50 to the cost of a family holiday within a decade, analysis shows. Net zero rules introduced by Sir Keir Starmer mean planes must be filled with at least 2 per cent sustainable fuel, which will rise to 10 per cent followed by 22 per cent by 2040. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate means airlines that do not comply with the green policy face heavy fines likely to be passed on in part to passengers. Costs associated with the new levy are expected to reach £4.5 billion by 2035, according to a new analysis by Public First. This works out at £12.79 per passenger per flight leaving the UK, adding £51.16 to the average overseas holiday taken by a family of four. The impact of the policy is expected to hit Britons as soon as 2027, with its cost hitting £200 million in that year. 'Ludicrous net stupid zero' By 2030, this figure will have ballooned to £1.5 million, the equivalent to £4.64 per passenger per flight – making a holiday for a family of four £18.56 more expensive. Richard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, told The Telegraph: 'This is yet another egregious tax on working citizens to pay for the ludicrous net stupid zero. A Reform government will scrap all this nonsense.' Greg Smith, a Tory transport minister, said: 'Labour said the transition to green aviation would cost pennies but now families are being hit with soaring ticket prices to fund Ed Miliband's net zero experiment. 'It's not just weekend getaways being priced out. It's regional airports under threat, tourism on the ropes, and British families paying the price for Labour's ideological fantasy. 'The truth is net zero by 2050 is impossible without bankrupting our country and Labour's plan to chase it will ground British families before it ever lands.' 80pc cost could be passed to consumers The Government's own impact assessment of the green mandate found that as much as 80 per cent of its cost could be passed on to consumers. Labour claims the pledge to use more sustainable fuel will support thousands of jobs while cutting the UK's transport emissions on the way to becoming a 'clean energy superpower'. The figures come as ministers were urged to relax red tape that means SAF cannot currently be made from non-food grade British-grown wheat. Phil New led the Government's independent review into the future of SAF and urged it to consider British bioethanol as a credible and scalable option. Mr New said: 'Ethanol made from British-grown milling wheat, which would otherwise be exported as animal feed, can be processed into SAF in a way that meets the emissions reductions required by the UK's standards. 'Home-grown, low-carbon aviation fuel industry' 'This is a real opportunity to create a home-grown, low-carbon aviation fuel industry that supports British agriculture, strengthens fuel security and helps us meet our climate ambitions.' Ben Hackett, managing director at Vivergo Fuels, added: 'The UK has the capability today to produce sustainable aviation fuel from home-grown non-food grade wheat – supporting British farmers, reducing carbon emissions, and improving our energy security. But outdated regulations are blocking this from happening. 'It makes no sense that ethanol from British wheat can be blended into petrol for cars, but not used to make jet fuel, especially when other countries are already moving ahead with this technology.' The analysis by Public First also found the UK could require the output of seven large-scale bioethanol plants by 2035 to meet growing domestic demand for SAF.
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
British travellers have been fined £30million in 18 months for accidentally bringing migrants into the country - with only ONE successfully appealing the punishment
Brits have been fined an astonishing £30million in just a year and a half for accidentally ferrying illegal immigrants across the channel in their vehicles, the Daily Mail can reveal. Travellers have been slapped with thousands of pounds in fines under an obscure and highly controversial scheme designed to crack down on the waves of illegal migrants sneaking into the country. Drivers can be fined up to £10,000 for each illegal migrant found hiding in their vehicle when they return to the UK under the scheme - even if they were unaware of their existence. They can also be handed a £6,000 fine if they vehicle is not 'adequately secured' - even if no migrant is found. The penalties have been harshly criticised for punishing law-abiding citizens who report illegal migrants they discover and open themselves up for bumper fines. While those who don't report the illegal migrants, allowing them to freely leave their vehicles, avoid the prospect of a harsh penalty. The Daily Mail previously revealed that £25,662,299 in fines had been dished out by the home office under the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme between 1 January 2024 and March this year. By the end of June that figure had shot up to £30,983,102, with no further successful penalty appeals, figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request show. That comes despite criticism over the policy penalizing right-minded citizens, with Sir Keir Starmer even forced to intervene in one case after significant public backlash. Although 6,825 fines have been imposed, just one person has been succesful in getting their punishment rescinded since the beginning of last year. There have been 140 unsuccesful appeals. Hauliers have typically been the target of most fines and coach companies can pre-emptively sign up for 'membership' of a civil penalty accreditation scheme which entitles them to a 50 per cent reduction in fines. The fines come as the Government attempts to crack down on illegal immigration, including small boat crossings, but rather than punishing smugglers, it is innocent Brits, wholly unaware of any wrongdoing, who have been penalized under the scheme. One public spirited couple were punished for reporting a stowaway in their van - sparking widespread astonishment and the intervention of the prime minister. Adrian and Joanne Fenton, from Heybridge, Essex, were fined £1,500 by the Home Office in March after reporting a migrant in their motorhome after returning from France. The couple were shocked to find a Sudanese man inside a bag covering a bike rack on their motorhome after a long drive back from Calais and immediately called the police, who took the man away for processing. Yet just over two months later, the pair were issued with the fine for failing to 'check that no clandestine entrant was concealed' in the camper van. Mr Fenton appealed to Border Force by making a 'notice of objection' detailing why he believed the penalty was unfair. While their fine was waived after growing public pressure, their 'liability' remained. A letter from Border Force said: 'The written notice of objection has been carefully considered and the Secretary of State has decided that your liability stands. 'However, after review of the case by a senior officer the level of penalty per clandestine entrant or person concealed being a clandestine entrant has been revised to UK £0. They are not the only innocent couple to unknowingly end up on the wrong side of the law, with a retired ambulance service worker previously warning Brits to be on high alert during Channel crossings. Great-grandfather Peter Hughes, 75, from Droylsden, Tameside, was initially fined a staggering £6,000 after a Sudanese man was found hiding inside his small camping trailer at the Port of Calais in France. After an appeal accompanied by substantial political and media pressure, this sum was eventually reduced to £150 - which he begrudgingly paid despite he and his wife, Anne, knowing nothing about the migrant's existence. Since the beginning of last year, 12,320 fines totalling £14,676,894.84 have been paid, although some of these were imposed previously. Only one appeal of 141 penalties has been successful. That triumphant appeal saw the Home Office rescind a Kent couple's £3,000 fine after they unwittingly drove two Sudanese migrants through Calais in their campervan. Lisa Russell and Geoff Evans were stopped by border officers in France on their return from holiday and were slapped with the penalty despite having 'no idea' a man and teenager were hidden in the bike rack of their van. But their appeal, the only successful one in an 18-month period, saw the Border Force 'exercising general discretion' and remove their penalty. A letter from Border Force said: 'Following a review of the case we have decided to revise the penalty, and conclude that you have demonstrated, to the extent required, that you complied with the regulations. 'The Secretary of State has chosen to exercise general discretion and exceptionally, on this occasion, your penalty has been reduced to £0.' Others have had their fines reduced with one haulage company paying £7,566 after an original £48,000 bill. Around 5,000 'clandestine entrants' were found last year at UK border controls in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk, according to a report by the immigration and borders watchdog. Inevitably, others would have managed to evade checks. Meanwhile, more than 25,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats in 2025, a record at this stage of the year. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We are fully committed to stopping people from illegally entering the country and cracking down on people smugglers. 'It's against the law to help someone enter the UK illegally, which is why the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme is there to ensure drivers take every reasonable step to deter illegal migration.'
Telegraph
8 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Council leader accuses police of covering up rape of girl, 12, by asylum seekers
A council leader has accused police of 'covering up' an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl by Afghan asylum seekers. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged last week with the rape of the girl in Nuneaton, while Mohammad Kabir, 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation. Warwickshire Police reportedly advised local councillors and officials not to reveal the asylum-seeker background of the two suspects, for fear of 'inflaming community tensions'. Reform UK's George Finch, the leader of the county council, said in a letter to the force's chief constable: 'The continued cover-up of the true nature of Ahmad Mulakhil's immigration status risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire. 'The same detail has been covered up today concerning Mohammed Kabir. I am disgusted that one year on from the social unrest that we saw in parts of the UK in 2024, the Home Office and police have clearly not learnt any lessons from the handling of similar incidents last year. 'I strongly believe that the only risk to public order from this case in Warwickshire comes from the cover-up itself.' Warwickshire Police has not denied reports that Mr Mulakhil and Mr Kabir are both asylum seekers. The pair have appeared at Coventry magistrates' court and were both remanded in custody until an appearance at Warwick Crown Court on Aug 26. It comes after protests outside a migrant hotel in Epping, Essex, after it emerged an asylum seeker staying there had been charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. One man, from Warwickshire, told the Mail on Sunday: 'They're hushing it up because they don't want an Epping situation on their hands.' In a statement, the force said that once someone is charged with an offence, they follow national guidance, which 'does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status'. Farage: Police acting against British people Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, which runs Warwickshire county council, said: 'I am afraid police and elected officials are acting against the British people.' In his letter, which was also sent to Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, Mr Finch claimed the council's chief executive told him Mr Kabir was an asylum seeker. He said: 'Residents can see they have not been told the full story. If these accusations turn out to be true, it indicates that organised crime centring around the abuse of young girls is present in Warwickshire. This is unacceptable.' He also called for all asylum seekers living in houses of multiple occupation (HMO) in Warwickshire to be rehoused. Mr Finch said: 'Our community has had enough of the Home Office breaking planning regulations to turn sections of local communities into unrecognisable, ghetto-like areas. 'Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the county. 'Let me be clear, I do not want to see protests taking place outside migrant hotels and HMOs in Warwickshire. Nor do I want to see any form of violent disorder.' The victim is now said to be receiving specialist care after the attack. Mr Mulakhil, who reportedly crossed the Channel on a small boat, is said to have raped the victim in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton, between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on July 22. The Mail on Sunday published CCTV footage from a resident's house near the street, which appears to show a man walking with the girl. The pair walked past the property at 8pm, about half an hour before the alleged assault. Accused pair lived on adjoining streets Warwickshire Police said Mr Mulakhil was arrested four days after the incident, and charged the following day. He appeared before Coventry magistrates' court on Monday charged with two counts of vaginal and oral rape of the victim. Kabir was arrested on Thursday, and charged with aiding and abetting rape of the 12-year-old, as well as strangulation and kidnap. He appeared before Coventry magistrates' court on Saturday. Warwickshire Police said in a statement: 'At this stage, we do not believe there to be anyone else involved but we continue to appeal for witnesses who were in the Cheverel Street area between 8.30pm and 9.45pm on Tuesday 22 July and who saw anything of interest to please come forward.' The Mail on Sunday said Mr Mulakhil and Mr Kabir lived in two tax-payer-funded rented houses about 70 yards from each other on adjoining streets. Both properties are managed by Serco, which has accommodated about five asylum seekers in each house. Serco has a £1.9bn contract with the Home Office to house asylum seekers across the country. When the paper contacted the owner of the property in which Mr Mulakhil lived, she said she was 'sickened to the stomach' when hearing about the incident. She said: 'I don't know anything because Serco manage the house completely.' Serco said in a statement: 'We do not confirm individual addresses, nor the names of people in properties we manage.'
