Keir Starmer's approval ratings fall 14 points in a month amid anger over the winter fuel allowance crackdown and threats of tax hikes

According to a poll, Keir Starmer's approval ratings have fallen sharply in the wake of the crackdown on the winter fuel allowance and threatened tax increases.

Ipsos research has found that the proportion of those who view the prime minister positively has fallen from 38 percent in August to 32 percent this month.

The proportion of those who had a negative impression rose by eight points to 46 percent, which corresponds to a net value of minus 14.

The grim figures underline how difficult the decision to cut winter fuel payments for ten million pensioners is for Sir Keir.

The move was formally approved by the House of Commons this week – but around 50 Labour MPs abstained from the crucial vote amid warnings that thousands of pensioners could die of cold without the £300.

Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have also made it clear that the Budget on 30 October will contain other painful issues, with inheritance tax, capital gains tax and tax relief for pensions in focus.

The percentage of those who view Sir Keir unfavourably matches the lowest figure recorded for him by Ipsos following the Hartlepool by-election in 2021.

The Tories won this contest by a margin of almost 16 percent.

Ms Reeves' popularity fell by four percentage points to 23 percent.

At the same time, their unpopularity has increased by nine percentage points to 44 percent.

This gives a total value of minus 21 in September, compared to minus eight in August.

The proportion of people who have a positive opinion of the Labour Party has fallen by four percentage points to 36 percent, while disapproval has increased by eight percentage points to 45 percent.

However, despite some concerns within the party about the cuts to winter heating subsidies, Labour voters' positive attitude towards the Prime Minister and his party remains unchanged at 69 percent.

The survey found that 39 percent of citizens support the means test for winter heating allowance and 42 percent are against it.

There is a large age gap on this issue. Among those under 55, 46 percent support the measure and 32 percent are against it. However, among those over 55, 58 percent are against the measure.

Overall, 55 percent of respondents thought Britain was heading in the right direction, three percentage points more than in August, which followed the unrest.

Keiran Pedley, political director at Ipsos, said: “These figures contain some early warning signs for Keir Starmer and Labour.”

Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves (pictured) have also made it clear that there is more pain to come in the Budget on October 30.

“Although the next general election is still several years away – and perceptions of the Labour Party are still stronger than those of the Conservative Party – these figures represent a sharp decline from those recorded in August.

“Labour will seek to strike the right balance in the future: on the one hand, raising public expectations about the pace of change, and on the other hand, maintaining confidence that the changes Labour supporters voted for in July are actually coming.”

Ipsos surveyed a representative sample of 1,147 adults aged 18 and over. Interviews were conducted between September 6 and 9. Data were weighted to match the overall population.