The Middle East carnage and clashes with Donald Trump look to have lifted Keir Starmer‘s popularity off grim lows.
An Opinium poll shows the PM’s ratings have ticked up another four points over the past week – although he is still deep in negative territory.
Sir Keir’s score of minus 38 compares to the record low of minus 49 he hit at the end of last month, before the US-Israeli attacks were launched on Iran.
The improvement comes after the PM triggered the wrath of Mr Trump by refusing to allow UK bases to be used for ‘offensive’ strikes.
Although Sir Keir has since shifted position to facilitate America’s ‘defensive’ operations against Tehran’s missile launches, the president has branded him ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’.
There are signs that the crisis has bolstered the premier’s standing with Labour MPs, who have been in open mutiny over the Mandelson scandal and defeat in the Gorton & Denton by-election.
The Middle East carnage and clashes with Donald Trump look to have lifted Keir Starmer’s popularity off grim lows
Sir Keir’s score of minus 38 compares to the record low of minus 49 he hit at the end of last month, before the US-Israeli attacks were launched on Iran
The president has branded Sir Keir ‘disappointing’ and ‘no Churchill’
However, the real-word impact of the turmoil on Brits’ pockets has only just started to be felt.
And potential rivals such as Angela Rayner remain on manoeuvres, with looming local elections in May seen as another moment of maximum danger.
The former deputy PM has put herself at the head of a Labour revolt against tough immigration measures, seen by many as key to countering the surge from Reform.
The Opinium research still put Nigel Farage’s party significantly ahead on voting intention, with 27 per cent support – although that figure was down three points in a week.
Labour was on 21 per cent, the Tories on 17 per cent and the Greens 15 per cent.
Ms Rayner is reported to have been wooing the City in recent weeks, in an apparent bid to ease concerns she would rack up even more borrowing to splurge on the public sector.
She is also seen as building up a warchest with lucrative speeches and a rumoured £100,000 advance for a memoir.
However, opponents point out that she has yet to conclude negotiations with HMRC over the unpaid tax that sparked her resignation in September.
She has already broken ranks to criticise Sir Keir over welfare reforms and the release of files relating to the Lord Mandelson scandal.
Angela Rayner has been accused of ‘blatant’ leadership manoeuvring
