Poll Suggests Half of Voters Believe Sir Keir Starmer Will Be Replaced as Prime Minister by End of 2026
A YouGov poll conducted for Sky News between 21 and 22 December with a sample of 2,041 people indicates that about 50% of voters think Sir Keir Starmer will be replaced as prime minister by the end of 2026. Specifically, 31% believe a replacement is likely next year, while 19% say he will definitely be out by then. Only 35% of those surveyed believe Starmer has any chance of remaining as the leader.
The poll also highlights economic concerns, with 71% of respondents saying the economy has worsened over the last 12 months and just 7% feeling it has improved. Regarding personal finances, 40% expect their financial situation to worsen next year, 15% expect improvement, and 39% anticipate no change.
In terms of political party support, Labour remains in second place on 20%, with Reform UK leading at 25%. The Conservatives stand at 19%, and both the Liberal Democrats and Greens are at 15%, though the Greens' support has decreased from 17%.
Potential challengers to Sir Keir Starmer as leader have been suggested, including Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham, Shabana Mahmood, and Angela Rayner. However, Labour chair Anna Turley has stated that Starmer would absolutely still be prime minister by next Christmas, contrasting with the poll's outlook.
