Sir Keir Starmer has been dealt a fresh blow after a new poll revealed the Greens’ Zack Polanski is currently the most popular party leader with voters.
The Opinium survey found Mr Polanski has a net approval rating of -1, which made him the most popular leader from Britain’s five best-supported parties.
With no party leader achieving a net positive score with voters, Mr Polanski came ahead of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey (-4).
He also outscored Tory leader Kemi Badenoch (-10), and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage (-12). Meanwhile, the Prime Minister languished as the most unpopular party leader.
Sir Keir’s net approval rating stood at -43 in the latest poll, following a two percentage point rise since Opinium’s previous survey.
The popularity of Mr Polanski will spark fresh alarm in Downing Street about the growing Left-wing challenge the self-described ‘eco-populist’ poses to Labour.
Mr Polanski has overseen a surge in his party’s poll ratings and membership numbers since being elected Green leader in September.
At the same time, the Opinium survey showed Reform continue to hold a commanding lead over Labour ahead of the next general election.
Mr Farage’s party were backed by 31 per cent of voters, ahead of Labour (20 per cent), the Tories (18 per cent), the Lib Dems (13 per cent), and Greens (12 per cent).
Sir Keir Starmer has been dealt a fresh blow after a new poll revealed the Greens’ Zack Polanski (pictured) is currently the most popular party leader with voters
Sir Keir’s net approval rating stood at -43 in the latest poll, following a two percentage point rise since Opinium’s previous survey
On Friday, it was claimed that Reform were now the biggest political party in the UK after an extraordinary plunge in Labour’s membership since the 2024 general election.
Leaked figures suggested Sir Keir’s party had lost around 100,000 activists in the wake of his historic win in July last year.
Labour’s membership numbers are now believed to be below 250,000 – although the exact details are kept a closely-guarded secret.
Meanwhile, a live ticker on Reform’s website shows it has around 270,000 members.
Local elections in May are increasingly seen as a key moment in whether Sir Keir can hang on as Labour leader and PM.
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor and a long-time rival of Sir Keir, is said to be eyeing a return to Westminster as an MP before those contests take place.
This would put him in a position to launch a challenge should dire results for Labour trigger a leadership crisis.
Commenting on the latest survey, James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium, said: ‘Zack Polanski looks set to become a painful thorn in Keir Starmer’s side in 2026 unless the PM can set a clearer direction of travel for his Government.
‘Until then, Labour voters will continue to be drawn to a Green Party they feel offers a stronger sense of purpose and conviction than their own.
‘Starmer’s only breathing space is that few expect the Greens to be ready to take the reins of power any time soon.’
