Latest UK Opinion Polls: Government approval recent changes

Public Sector

Ipsos publishes the latest results of UK opinion polls and voting intention.

 

Updated on 19 September 2023 at 12:00.

Voting Intention | Optimism on the UK economy | Rishi Sunak favourability rating | Satisfaction with leaders and the Government | Favourability towards UK political parties | UK: Right direction or wrong direction? | Impact of Brexit | Issues of concern to Britons | Britons' predictions for politics | Recent research and polls

UK Voting Intention (change since July)

Labour 44% (-1) Conservatives 24% (-4) Liberal Democrats 12% (nc) Green Party 8% (+2) Reform 4% (+1) Others 7% (+1)

Our latest Political Monitor release of 19 September shows that nearly 9 in 10 Britons (86%) believe Britain Britain needs a fresh team of leaders.

How would you vote if there were an election tomorrow?

UK Voting Intention September 2023 - How do you intend to vote in the General Election? Labour 44% (-1) Conservatives 24% (-4) Liberal Democrats 12% (nc) Green Party 8% (+2) Reform 4% (+1) Others 7% (+1)UK Headline voting intention since the 2015 General Election: How would you vote if there were an election tomorrow? 44% Labour 24% Conservative - September 2023UK Headline voting intention January 2004 – September 2023: How would you vote if there were an election tomorrow? 44% Labour 24% Conservative 12% Lib Dem 8% Green 4% Reform Party

Optimism on the UK economy

There is some positive news for Rishi Sunak in that economic optimism has shown a slight uptick. Whilst 55% think the economy will worsen in the next year, 28% expect it to improve, leaving the Ipsos Economic Optimism Index at -27, an improvement of 10 points over June.

Ipsos Economic Optimism Index - Do you think that the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay the same or get worse over the next 12 months? 55% Get Worse, 28% Improve, 15% Stay the same

 

Rishi Sunak approval rating

Our latest Political Pulse release of 25 August shows that for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 27% are favourable towards him (+1 from July), and 49% are unfavourable (+2). For Keir Starmer 30% are favourable (-2 from July) and 38% are unfavourable (-1 from July).

 

To what extent, if at all, do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the following politicians and political parties? August 2023: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Unfavourable 49% Favourable 27% - IpsosTo what extent, if at all, do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the following politicians and political parties? August 2023: Keir Starmer Unfavourable 38% Favourable 30% - Ipsos

 

Satisfaction with leaders and the Government

22% are satisfied with the job Rishi Sunak is doing as PM (-4 from July) and 66% are dissatisfied (+3).  His net satisfaction score of -44 is his lowest as PM and rivals those of Boris Johnson (-45) and Theresa May (-44) immediately before they left office.

Satisfaction with leaders and the Government: September 2023 Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Rishi Sunak / Keir Starmer is running the country / doing his job as Prime Minister / Leader of the Labour Party? Rishi Sunak Net -44 Keir Starmer Net -22 The Government Net -68

Favourability towards the political parties

Our latest Political Pulse release of 25 August shows that 23% of Britons are favourable towards the Conservatives (53% unfavourable) while 38% are favourable towards the Labour party with 34% - unfavourable.

Political Parties Favourability: To what extent, if at all, do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the following politicians and political parties? August 2023: Labour Party 38% Green Party 27% Liberal Democrats 22% Conservative Party 23% Reform Party 13%

 

Direction of the UK: Is the UK heading in the right direction or wrong direction?

Our latest Political Pulse release of 25 August shows that 6 in 10 Britons (63%) believe that things in Great Britain are heading in the wrong direction - no change from July.

Direction of the Country: Generally speaking, do you think things in Great Britain are heading in the right direction or wrong direction? August 2023: Wrong direction 63% Right direction 18%

 

Impact of Brexit: The UK's decision to leave the European Union

Our latest Political Pulse release of 25 August shows that 55% think Brexit has had a negative impact on the country (-2 from July) and 21% say positive (+1). This now marks 9 consecutive months where the proportion saying Brexit has had a negative impact has been at or above 50%.

Brexit: Overall, do you think the UK’s decision to leave the European Union has had a positive or negative impact on the country, or has it made no difference? August 2023: Negative Impact 55% Positive Impact 21% Made no difference 16% - Ipsos Brexit Tracker Poll

 

Issues Concerning Britons - Issues Index

The August 2023 Ipsos Issues Index reveals that concern about climate change and the environment doubles to become the joint-third biggest issue facing the country.

Ipsos Issues Index Chart - Agust 2023 - What do you see as the most/other important issues facing Britain today? Inflation/Prices 37% Economy 37% Pollution/Environment/Climate change 25% NHS/Hospitals/Healthcare 25% Immigration/immigrants 23% Housing 15% Lack of faith in politics/politicians/government 12% Poverty/Inequality 11% Education/Schools 8% Common Market/Brexit/EU/Europe 7% Crime/Law & Order/ASB 7%

 

Britons' predictions for politics

When asked to look forward to what 2023 could bring, almost half of Brits think it likely that we may have a new Prime Minister by the end of 2023.

Britons predictions for politics

Recent Ipsos research and polls

Scottish public support for improving the energy efficiency of homes and businesses (84%) and investing in renewables (82%) is high – and higher than it is among the British public overall. A majority (56%) think Conservatives have done a bad job maintaining Britain’s infrastructure but local councils and those in charge at the time are blamed more for school closures due to RAAC concerns than the current government. Dissatisfaction with government on immigration at its highest level since 2015 according to our latest immigration tracker with British Future.

More insights about Public Sector

Society