A poll of over 2,000 Labour members found Keir Starmer is the 17th most popular in his top team – and it’s not good news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall
Rachel Reeves is the least popular Cabinet member among Labour members, bombshell polling shows – while Ed Miliband reigns supeme over the party faithful.
And alarming figures for the Government show almost half believe Keir Starmer and co are heading in the wrong direction. The poll of more than 2,000 members comes days before the Chancellor delivers her Spring Statement, which is expected to include huge Government spending cuts.
The poll, carried out by Survation on behalf of LabourList, found Energy Secretary Mr Miliband has a net favourability rating of +68.6. He was closely followed by Deputy PM and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, on +62.95.l
It was not such good news for Ms Reeves, who was on -11.19, and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall with -7.49. The PM was in 17th place. Worryingly for the PM 48.9% of members believe Labour is heading in the wrong direction, while 40.6% believe Mr Starmer is governing badly.
One in eight did not know how they would vote in the next election, but two thirds nevertheless said the Government is “competent”. In brutal verdict on Kemi Badenoch, 71% said Nigel Farage’s Reform are the biggest threat to their party.
Scroll down to see the full list
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It comes as the Labour leadership tries to fight off a rebellion over welfare cuts. Earlier this week Ms Kendall unveiled plans to slash £5billion from the welfare bill. The shake-up to sickness and disability benefits follows disquiet over Winter Fuel Payments, WASPI compensation and a refusal – thus far – to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Backbencher Richard Burgon said on Wednesday: “The Government must drop this cruel proposal or it’ll face the mother of all rebellions.” Mr Starmer defended the proposals, telling the Commons during PMQs it was a “moral issue”, with one in eight young people not in employment, training, or education.
He added: “I’ve lived with the impact of disability in our family through my mother and brother all my life. I do understand the human impact of this but the current system is morally and economically indefensible and we’re right to reform it.”
Who are the most popular Cabinet members?
Ed Miliband +68.6
Angela Rayner +62.95
Lisa Nandy +38.87
Hilary Benn +37.26
John Healey +35.95
Bridget Phillipson +35.41
Yvette Cooper +33.67
Shabana Mahmood +30.27
Darren Jones +29.23
Jonathan Reynolds +28.34
Heidi Alexander +26.84
Peter Kyle +25.04
Pat McFadden +22.51
David Lammy +21.46
Lucy Powell +16.43
Baroness Smith +14.72
Keir Starmer +13.83
Steve Reed +13.51
Ian Murray +13.04
Jo Stevens +12.71
Wes Streeting +9.55
Lord Hermer +5.4
Liz Kendall -7.49
Rachel Reeves -11.19
:: Survation surveyed 2,022 LabourList readers, who said they were also members, between 4th and 18th March 2025 via LabourList’s database
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