More than half of voters believe it’s time for a change at the top of the Labour Party, according to a new poll released January 30, 2026, signaling a significant challenge for current leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Pressure Mounts on Labour Leader
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A recent survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction with Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, with Andy Burnham emerging as a potential successor.
- The poll, conducted by BMG Research for The i Paper, found 51 percent of voters think Sir Keir Starmer should be replaced.
- Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is the preferred choice of 24 percent of voters to take over the leadership.
- Starmer has a record negative net satisfaction score of -49, the lowest of any British leader in history.
- The findings come after Starmer blocked Burnham from running in a by-election, potentially hindering a future leadership challenge.
Voters have given Sir Keir Starmer a record negative net satisfaction score of -49, making him the most unpopular British leader in history, and over half—51 percent—now believe he should step down as leader of the Labour Party. The polling, carried out by BMG Research for The i Paper, underscores growing discontent within the electorate.
Burnham Emerges as Frontrunner
Among those seeking a change, Andy Burnham is the most frequently cited alternative. Twenty-four percent of voters indicated they would prefer to see Burnham lead the party, just days after Starmer prevented the Manchester mayor from running as a Member of Parliament in a February 26 by-election—a move widely interpreted as an attempt to preempt a potential challenge to his leadership.
Sir Keir Starmer at a reception in Shanghai. More than half of voters want to see Sir Keir ousted as Labour leader, a new poll suggests
While Burnham currently holds a net positive perception score, the poll also revealed a significant level of indecision. A substantial number of voters remain undecided, and over a quarter stated they would not want any of the named candidates—including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood—to assume the leadership role. This suggests a broader sense of unease regarding Labour’s current direction.
A Party Struggling with its Image
Streeting garnered support from just 4 percent of voters, while Angela Rayner received a similar level of backing. BMG pollster Jack Curry noted that Burnham stands out as “an outlier in a party struggling with its image.” He added, “While this does not amount to a clamour for Burnham, it indicates a public increasingly unsure that Starmer can turn things around, and increasingly willing to look outside Westminster for someone who might.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham is the favourite to replace Sir Keir. Burnham is the only leadership candidate with a net positive perception score
Burnham initially sought to contest the by-election triggered by the resignation of Andrew Gwynne, who stepped down following reports of offensive WhatsApp messages. However, Starmer intervened, citing concerns about the cost of a subsequent election to replace Burnham as mayor, a decision seen by many as a strategic move to prevent a direct challenge to his leadership.
