Voting intention: 7th January 2026
See the full data tables here.
Public confidence in UK leadership has weakened further at the start of 2026, while attitudes towards the United States and its recent military action in Venezuela reveal a deeply divided electorate, according to the latest Opinium polling.
Starmer slips further as no leader starts 2026 in positive territory
The new year begins with no party leader enjoying net positive approval. Keir Starmer has seen his standing deteriorate further, with his net approval falling to –46, his joint lowest score on record and equal to Theresa May’s worst rating in May 2019.
Starmer’s decline leaves him behind most recent prime ministers at their lowest points, reinforcing a challenging start to the year for Labour’s leadership. Chancellor Rachel Reeves remains similarly unpopular on –45.
By contrast, Ed Davey is currently the most popular party leader, albeit still marginally negative, on –2, with Zack Polanski close behind on –3. Kemi Badenoch stands at –11, while Nigel Farage sits at –15.
Starmer only narrowly still seen as best Prime Minister
When voters are asked who would make the best Prime Minister, Starmer holds a narrow one-point lead over Badenoch (21% vs 20%). However, this contest is overshadowed by widespread disengagement, with almost half of the public (48%) saying they would choose neither.
In a direct match-up between Starmer and Farage, the Reform UK leader opens a clearer advantage, leading by six points (30% vs 24%).
Strain on the ‘Special Relationship’
Public attitudes towards the UK’s relationship with the United States are increasingly unsettled. Just three in ten (30%) believe the so-called “special relationship” is positive for Britain, while one in five (20%) say it limits UK independence. A further 16% do not believe the special relationship exists at all.
Perceptions of the US have cooled since December, with more people now seeing America as a threat rather than an ally, and the net ally score falling sharply. The US continues to lag well behind traditional allies such as Australia, France and Germany in terms of perceived closeness.
Views of Donald Trump remain sharply polarised. While he is widely seen as someone who gets things done and sticks to his principles, trust remains his major weakness, with a net trust score of –45.
UK divided on US military action in Venezuela
The United States’ recent military operation in Venezuela has split public opinion in the UK. Over a third (36%) oppose the action, compared with 22% who support it. Around a quarter neither support nor oppose, while many remain unsure.
Views vary strongly by party affiliation. Conservative and Reform voters are more inclined to back the intervention, while Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green voters are overwhelmingly opposed.
A plurality of the public believes the action was illegal, with 41% taking this view compared with just 9% who believe it was legal. Many are uncertain about the legality, highlighting widespread confusion and unease.
When asked how the UK should respond, there is no clear consensus. The most common view (32%) is that Britain should avoid taking sides and instead call for restraint and a peaceful transition. Smaller groups favour condemning the action as illegal or supporting the removal of Nicolás Maduro without commenting on legality.
Starmer’s own response to the crisis has failed to resonate. While relatively few actively approve or disapprove, a majority either feel neutral or do not hold a view at all, underlining limited public engagement with the government’s stance.
Commentary
James Crouch, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Opinium said: “The era of the United States as an unquestioned ally for the UK appears to be over according to the British public. The gap between public opinion and what Britain’s leaders feel they need to say to maintain the ‘special relationship’ now appears wider than at any point in recent years.”
Fieldwork
Opinium conducted a nationally and politically representative sample of 2,050 UK adults. The survey was conducted online between 7th and 9th January 2026.