Starmer in freefall as Labour’s popularity crashes in record time after winter fuel furore
Sir Keir Starmer’s popularity has plummeted at a record speed amid fury over winter fuel cuts, the early release of criminals and the row over gifts from donors.
Keir Starmer is facing mounting criticism over multiple policies and scandals (Image: Getty)
New analysis has shown Labour’s approval ratings have dropped below 30% in just 70 days.
No government has ever dropped so sharply in the polls. By comparison, Sir Tony Blair’s Labour lasted 1,104 days before dropping below 30% in 2004.
Lady Starmer has received free clothes (Image: Getty)
Former prime minister Gordon Brown took 1,082 days, Boris Johnson’s Conservative government 762 days and Margaret Thatcher 676.
Sir Keir has faced widespread fury after it emerged he and his wife have received thousands of pounds worth’ of free clothes.
Labour donor Lord Alli gave the eye-watering freebie to Sir Keir’s wife Victoria, as well as paying for a personal shopper.
The Labour peer had already been involved in a sleaze scandal, after it emerged he was handed an access-all-areas pass to No 10 following the General Election.
Campaigners warned pensioner deaths will be even higher than feared after shock research found winter fuel cuts will stop them turning on the heating.
And, in the biggest controversy to engulf the Government so far, nearly two million bill payers say they will keep their radiators off this winter – double the number last year.
More than half blame rising living costs, while a quarter of over-65s who will take the drastic step said it was a result of being stripped of their winter fuel payments.
Research for Uswitch.com found 1.7million households do not intend to turn on their heating this winter – nearly double the 972,000 who said the same last year.
Another million people said they will only switch it on from December to help keep costs down.
The Express crusade to save the payment has been supported by MPs from across the House of Commons.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey insisted during his closing speech to the party’s autumn conference that he will fight the cuts.
And fury erupted after 1,750 prisoners were freed early this month from jails across England and Wales.
Pictures emerged of an inmate being sprayed with bubbly by friends at the prison gates as they were released. Ministers faced accusations that serious career criminals were among those walking free.
It is understood the man was released as part of the policy, which aims to ease prison overcrowding.
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A quarter of Brits worry about money on a daily basis as cost-of-living crisis continues
A quarter of Brits still worry about money every day as cost-of-living worries continue to bite.
A poll, of 2,000 adults, found finances are still a main concern for 41% of the nation with energy bills (36%), groceries (32%) and car costs (13%) the biggest drain on Brits’ daily spend.
Over a third (36%) haven’t felt able to ask for advice from anyone around them, leaving 24% feeling stressed. While just under a quarter (24%) feel having open conversations about their finances would have a positive impact on their mental health.
To help people with their cash-flow, financial expert Peter Komolafe has offered advice to boost financial wellbeing.This includes creating a detailed budget, slowly building up savings, and reaching out to your energy supplier for help if you are struggling.
Working in partnership with Smart Energy GB, to share his top money saving tips ahead of the winter, Peter said: “Money worries can be stressful, but it’s important to know there are simple steps you can take to both alleviate the pressure and help you feel better.
“If you’re struggling with money, it’s really important to talk to someone, whether that’s friends or family, or even your energy supplier.
“They could offer you a smart meter to give you a better understanding of how much you’re spending on energy and find ways to reduce it.”
Many agree sharing their financial worries with others would help them feel less stressed (Image: Getty Images)
The research also found 22% of adults wish they felt more confident when talking about money. And 23% would rather their loved ones shared their financial concerns, so they wouldn’t feel so stressed.
Of those who would ask someone for help with money worries, 72% would ask family, while 45% would go to friends.
Brits are overwhelmingly most worried about their energy bills during winter (58%), with only nine% most concerned in the summer.
And for those who have a smart meter at home, 60% agree that it has helped them get a better understanding of how much they spend on energy.
Phillippa Brown from Smart Energy GB added: “Talking about financial worries can be daunting, but it can be a real relief for people during stressful times.
“If you’re having problems paying an energy bill, an important first step is to talk to your energy supplier, as they can tell you what support is available.”
PETER KOMOLAFE’S TOP 5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR FINANCIAL WELLBEING
- Have an intentional budget. Make a detailed list of all the money you have coming in, and everything going out each month separated into three pots – essentials, like bills and groceries; non-essentials like subscriptions or streaming services; and a savings pot.
- Slowly build a savings buffer. Regularly putting even a very small amount of money into a savings pot will mean you are less reliant on credit cards or overdrafts, and give a bit more security in case of unexpected costs.
- Don’t be afraid to talk and ask for help. Talking about your financial worries can be scary, but it will help you feel less alone and could help you find potential solutions. But it’s not just about friends and family. For example, if you’re struggling to pay an energy bill, talk to your supplier as they can let you know what support is available. One thing they could do is install a smart meter, which could help give you more control over your energy use.
- Be proactive with your finances. We all want to do things we enjoy, whether that’s eating out or going on holidays. By planning ahead and accounting for these expenses, you’ll have something to look forward to without the financial pressure you might otherwise have had.
- Control the controllables. Times are tough for many people right now, but if you can try to tune out external negativity and control what’s within your power to control, it can help you find a sense of peace and focus that will really help improve your mental wellbeing.
