Sir John Curtice analyses Keir Starmer’s role in Labour’s poor polling | News

Sir Keir Starmer has “never been as popular as Labour”, said election expert Professor Sir John Curtice, analyzing the prime minister’s role in his party’s poor polling ahead of local elections.

Sir Keir faces the biggest test of his premiership after millions of voters head to the polls on Thursday for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, as well as local councils across England.

The Prime Minister could potentially lose hundreds of council seats and Labour’s grip on the Senedd, the Welsh parliament, in the biggest test of public opinion since the 2024 general election.

Appearing on BBC News Night on Thursday (7 May) after polling closed, Sir John said: “The truth is that Keir Starmer has never been as popular as his party. It has never been clear that he is valuable to voters.”