Labour members back Burnham over Starmer for next election: YouGov polling
New data from YouGov indicates that while two-thirds of Labour members rate Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s job performance positively, only a minority support him leading the party into the next general election, with Andy Burnham emerging as the preferred candidate.
Detailed polling released by YouGov on 19 May 2026 highlights a significant disconnect within the Labour Party regarding its future leadership. While 66 per cent of members rate Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s performance as fairly or very good, only 28 per cent believe he should lead the party into the next general election. In a direct head-to-head comparison, members favour Andy Burnham over Starmer by a factor of three to two, with the majority believing the party is more likely to secure victory under Burnham’s leadership.
The findings emerge against a backdrop of internal instability following the resignation of Wes Streeting. Streeting, previously viewed as the leading potential challenger, declined to launch a leadership bid but publicly expressed a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister. His departure has not quelled internal pressure; instead, the focus has shifted to Andy Burnham, who is seeking to secure a parliamentary seat via the Makerfield byelection.
Burnham’s potential entry into parliament through the Makerfield byelection does not avert a leadership challenge but rather postpones it. No byelection polling is currently available for the constituency, leaving the timing of any formal challenge uncertain. However, the YouGov data suggests that if a contest were to occur, Burnham holds a distinct advantage among the party membership over the current Prime Minister.
Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, recorded the highest combined favourability rating among potential candidates, leading on the combined "very/somewhat favourable" metric. However, when isolating those who view candidates as "very favourable," Burnham emerges as the most popular figure. This distinction underscores a sentiment among members that while personal likability is high for several figures, electoral viability is perceived to lie with Burnham.
The polling results complicate the political landscape for Starmer, who recently issued a "put up or shut up" directive to critics at a cabinet meeting. With Streeting opting out of a bid and Burnham positioning himself for a return to parliament, the party faces a period of heightened scrutiny. The divergence between high performance ratings and low leadership support suggests that members are evaluating the Prime Minister’s current governance separately from their strategic outlook for the next election.