Most Labour members think Starmer cannot revive party fortunes, poll finds | May 2026 elections
The majority of Labor Party members say they do not believe Keir Starmer can change the party’s fortunes, while 45% say the prime minister should resign.
Asked to rank their preferred successor, 42% of members had Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as their first choice.
Many Labor MPs, particularly those close to Burnham, told the Guardian they wanted to see a timetable for Starmer to stand down in an orderly and dignified manner, including giving the mayor time to seek a seat in parliament.
The poll was conducted just before Thursday’s election, when Labor is fighting on all fronts in local elections in England and parliamentary elections in Wales and Scotland. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK won hundreds of seats and control of more councils in England; Labor declines in Scotland; The SNP won a historic fifth victory and Plaid Cymru unseated Labor first minister Eluned Morgan, ending a century of Labor dominance in Wales.
In London, the Greens convened several councils in the capital; It was a sign of growing disillusionment with Keir Starmer’s party.
The poll found Burnham to have a clear 72 per cent favorability among members; This makes him likely to win any leadership contest he is allowed to compete in. Burnham cannot stand as a candidate unless he is denied the chance to stand for parliament, which has been blocked by Labour’s governing national executive committee (NEC).
The survey of more than 1,000 party members shows a sharp increase in the number of members unhappy with Starmer’s leadership; In October, just 28% said the prime minister should resign if Labor had poor election results in May.
According to a survey by think tank Compass, more than a third of members surveyed said they were considering resigning from their membership.
The think tank is affiliated with Labor group Mainstream, which is a key backer of Burnham’s potential leadership bid.
The poll found that more than half (51%) of Labor Party members do not believe Starmer can turn the polls; This shows that they do not believe Starmer can beat Reform in the next general election.
But Starmer is not the only target of members’ anger; 49% said the prime minister, along with the rest of the national government, was jointly responsible for the party’s dire consequences. 36 percent of those surveyed considered canceling their membership.
Lena Swedlow, deputy director of Compass, said: “Voters voiced their displeasure with Starmer’s leadership on Thursday and now Labor members have heard it too. Almost half want him to stand down and more than half don’t think he’s the man for the job.”
“In the face of an incredibly serious economic situation at home and abroad, it is essential that the country and the party have a leader they can trust. There is a clear desire for change in both the politics and staff of this government. Making these changes regularly, measuredly and thoughtfully will be very important for the stability and prosperity of the country.”
By putting pressure on Starmer and senior party figures, Burnham’s supporters in parliament hope the prime minister will set a timetable for his departure and that Burnham will not be prevented from standing for parliament again.
The mayor attempted to contest the Gorton and Denton by-election but was blocked by the NEC on the grounds that the party could not afford to lose the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.
NEC members told the Guardian the position would not change unless Starmer changed his mind, which is unlikely.
At least 10 MPs, including former transport secretary Louise Haigh, women and equalities select committee chair Sarah Owen, and several MPs elected in 2024, including Jonathan Brash, Simon Opher and Connor Naismith, have called for the prime minister to set out a departure timetable.
