With the opposition leader ahead in the polls, it’s mission half-accomplished. Now the party needs bold plans to win back voters
It’s not quite hallelujah time, but the year ends with plentiful reasons for Labour people to be cheerful. Their Christmas cards arrive with scrawled messages of political optimism for 2022, and that’s new. These wilderness years took their toll, with optimism in short supply. Now even Labour’s professional Eeyores are allowing themselves a beam or two of hope: “For the first time, I think we can win,” one tells me, almost surprised to be speaking those words.
The poll of polls gives Labour a 6% lead on an upward trajectory. Boris Johnson is plummeting with a 69% disapproval rating against 31% approval and Keir Starmer is now 10 points ahead on who would make the best prime minister with YouGov. Gideon Skinner, Ipsos Mori’s head of political research, points to Starmer now beating Johnson hollow on key measures in their December monitor: best as a capable leader, of sound judgment, understanding the problems facing the country, more honest than most politicians and a good representative for Britain on the world stage. Starmer loses out heavily on “has a lot of personality” and “more style than substance” – but haven’t people had enough of personality and style? On one important measure Johnson still leads by 14 points, as most “patriotic”, so best not to mock the Labour leader appearing in front of a union flag. As for who is “out of touch with ordinary people”, Johnson wins hands down at 63% to Starmer’s 33%.
