Report says Keir Starmer's discomfort with progressive values driving away left-leaning voters

Progressive voters have been driven away from the Labour Party by a perceived lack of argument and vision from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to a report from UCL's Policy Lab that draws on research by veteran pollster Stan Greenberg, who previously worked for Tony Blair and Bill Clinton.

Downing Street has been briefed on the research, which has also been shared with allies of potential leadership candidates including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Labour is braced for dismal results in Thursday's local elections, which could result in Starmer facing a leadership challenge.

The report suggested voters felt Starmer had a "discomfort" with progressive values. Key fights the government could pick, the report said, include a more robust challenge to U.S. President Donald Trump and a more passionate defence of environmentalism.

Marc Stears, director of the Policy Lab, said: "Keir Starmer came in on a wave of frustration with politics as usual and a promise of change. There is no hiding from the frustration voters feel with his time so far." He added: "Some of this can be put down to his personal style but this report suggests it is also due to his discomfort with progressive values. The party and politics that is able to tap more effectively into the core values of their potential supporters might do better in this newly polarised age."

Policy Lab's James Baggaley said progressive voters want closer ties to the European Union but also "much more radicalism on public services, taxation, climate and democracy." He said: "Unlike previous Labour prime ministers, Keir Starmer faces a serious challenge from a party to his left. How Labour responds to the Greens will shape politics in the years ahead."

The polling found Starmer was viewed negatively by three-quarters of voters – similar levels to former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Burnham had the best ratings, viewed positively by a third of voters. About 13% to 15% of progressive voters were open to voting Labour, compared with only 2% of Reform voters.

The polling found willingness to confront Trump brought an intensely positive dividend from voters. Progressive voters in focus groups said Britain and the government had failed to show values-based opposition to Trump, unlike politicians in Canada and Spain. Greenberg and Stears described a "failure to come to terms with our newly polarised age."