A new poll suggests that confidence in Chancellor Rachel Reeves is faltering, with many voters believing she should be removed from her role. According to the survey, conducted by former Conservative Party deputy chair Lord Ashcroft, 43% of respondents want Reeves sacked, compared to just 19% who think she should remain in charge of the Treasury ahead of the autumn Budget. Reeves is expected to raise taxes again in a bid to address worsening public finances.
Significantly, unease about her performance is not limited to opposition voters. The poll indicates that more than one in five Labour supporters also want Sir Keir Starmer to replace his Chancellor. Business groups and economists warn that Reeves’ fiscal policies—particularly higher National Insurance costs—are squeezing companies, leading to price increases that ultimately hit consumers.
The findings also raise doubts about the wider Labour government’s performance. Almost four in ten (39%) believe Starmer’s administration is performing worse than the previous Conservative government, while only 23% think it is doing better. Public opinion is sharply divided on Starmer’s future, with 35% predicting he will remain Prime Minister in a year’s time, against 34% who expect him to resign or be forced out.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch fares even worse, with only 20% of voters expecting her to retain her position in the coming year. By contrast, Nigel Farage appears more secure: 59% believe he will continue leading Reform UK.
The poll also touches on controversial political debates. A majority (55%) backed Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick’s recent claim that high migration poses risks to his children’s safety—remarks criticised for inflammatory language about migrants. Meanwhile, in relation to the war in Ukraine, only 14% support the idea of Kyiv conceding territory to Russia in exchange for peace, while 52% oppose any such compromise.
Lord Ashcroft concluded that the data reflects deep national pessimism. Nearly two-thirds of Labour voters from last year now say they are gloomy about Britain’s future. Strikingly, only half of them believe the current government is an improvement on the Conservatives. Ashcroft describes this as an “extraordinary position” for Starmer, who entered Downing Street just last summer with a commanding parliamentary majority.
