Markus Andrews

Sir Keir Starmer’s approval rating has hit an all-time low despite last week’s reshuffle designed to help reset his struggling government. The prime minister is now one of the most unpopular leaders in the West, falling below Donald Trump and Japan’s newly resigned leader Shigeru Ishiba, according to an analysis of polls from their respective countries. Sir Keir’s net approval rating has plummeted from 11 per cent last July to -44 this week, according to pollsters More in Common, while a whopping 62 per cent say he is doing a bad job and only 18 per cent think he is doing a good job.Luke Tryl, UK director at More in Common, said: “A week meant to signal a reset for the government ended instead with a dramatic resignation and reshuffle. More voters than ever now see the government as chaotic, and the prime minister’s approval rating has slumped to its lowest point yet.”According to More in Common’s poll conducted between 5-8 September – in the middle of Sir Keir’s cabinet reshuffle prompted by the shock resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – his approval rating has sunk by 54 points since the general election.His rating is lower than that of all other party leaders in the UK. And when compared with approval rating polls on leaders in other countries, Sir Keir is now one of the West’s most unpopular leaders, even trailing behind US president Donald Trump. Mr Trump, who entered his second term as US president earlier this year, remains one of the most popular leaders, with a -13 per cent approval rating – despite a steady decline in support since January. Even former Japanese leader Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned last week after a series of political defeats, maintained a higher net approval rating than Sir Keir, at -19 per cent, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Giorgia Meloni is also more popular in Italy than Sir Keir is in the UK, despite the right-wing leader dropping in the polls since being elected in 2022.Only French president Emmanuel Macron is more unpopular than Sir Keir, at -53 per cent on average, after eight years of presidency and recent losses in the legislative election.Starmer is suffering worse approval ratings than several European leaders, in addition to Donald Trump, and Mark Carney More

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has emerged as the early frontrunner in the race to replace Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader.After days of speculation over who Sir Keir Starmer’s preferred candidate would be, Ms Phillipson is seen as the leadership’s choice and should easily get the 80 MPs needed to nominate her.Hours after she threw her hat in the ring, a poll by Survation for Labour-focused website LabourList shows she is in pole position with Labour members. Bridget Phillipson is drawing on her working-class background in a bid to get the 80 nominations she needs to stand for deputy leadership More

Sir Keir Starmer has given Peter Mandelson his full backing after it emerged the British ambassador to the US had described notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as his “best pal”.Lord Mandelson features in a 50th birthday book for Epstein that was compiled by the late financier’s ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex.It contained a photo of Lord Mandelson and Epstein on what appeared to be the multimillionaire’s island, as well as a handwritten note for the disgraced financier.After the message was made public in files released by a US congressional committee, the prime minister’s official spokesman stressed he has full confidence in the Labour grandee, praising his work in strengthening Britain’s relations with the US under Donald Trump. Sir Keir Starmer backed Lord Mandelson More

Peter Mandelson is facing fresh questions over his ties to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The British ambassador to the US has been linked to a 50th birthday photo book compiled for the financier by Ghislaine Maxwell, now in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex. An apparent contribution by Lord Mandelson features a picture of the pair together, with the former minister grinning in a bathrobe, before he describes Epstein as his “best pal”. Lord Mandelson appeared to describe Jeffrey Epstein as his ‘best pal’ More

Peter Mandelson appeared to refer to Jeffrey Epstein as his “best pal” as he shared a photograph of the pair together in which he is wearing a bathrobe, according to files released by a US congressional committee. Britain’s ambassador to Washington features in a 50th birthday book for Epstein that was compiled by the late financier’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex. The book contained a photo of Lord Mandelson and Epstein on what appeared to be the multimillionaire’s island, as well as a handwritten note for the paedophile. The note appeared to take the form of a poem from Lord Mandelson to Epstein, beginning: “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life.” Other pictures featured alongside the note included a shot of Lord Mandelson on a balcony in a pair of swimming trunks, shot from behind, with his hands on his hips. Mandelson appeared to describe Jeffrey Epstein as his ‘best pal’ More