By Kevin Schofield

Copyright huffingtonpost

Keir Starmer is the most unpopular prime minister on record, according to a new poll.

The findings by leading pollsters Ipsos was revealed as Labour’s annual conference kicked off in Liverpool.

Just 13% of voters are satisfied with the job he is doing, compared to 79% who are unsatisfied.

That leaves him on a net rating of minus 66, the lowest satisfaction rate for any PM recorded by Ipsos since they were set up in 1977.

Incredibly, that includes Liz Truss, who was forced out of office after just 49 days after her mini-Budget crashed the economy. She had a net satisfaction rating of minus 51.

In a further blow for Labour, chancellor Rachel Reeves’ personal satisfaction rates have also reached a historic low.

According to the poll, 13% of voters are satisfied with the job she is doing, while 69% are unsatisfied, giving her a net rating of minus 56.

That is even worse than Truss’ disastrous chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, who had a net satisfaction rating of minus 53.

Asked who would make the best PM, 25% said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, 19% said Starmer and just 9% said Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

Gideon Skinner, senior director of UK politics at Ipsos, said: “Keir Starmer’s personal satisfaction ratings are the worst for any prime minister polled by Ipsos since we first started asking the question in 1977, which shows the scale of the task facing him ahead of the Labour conference.”

The same poll also showed that Reform has stretched its lead over Labour, whose support is now at its lowest level since 2009.

Support for Farage’s party is unchanged at 34%, while Labour’s has fallen by 2 points to just 22%.

The poll also makes grim viewing for Badenoch, whose Tory Party is on 14%, just 2 points ahead of the Lib Dems, who are on 12%, the same as the Greens.

Skinner said: “Labour’s share of vote is the lowest we have recorded since 2009 and has dipped three points since June, following a difficult start to the autumn in which he lost his deputy prime minister and his ambassador to the US, and is now facing talk of a potential leadership challenge.

“But Labour’s issues are deeper than changes in personnel – they are losing votes to both left and right, with the public still pessimistic about the state of the economy, immigration and public services, despite his planned relaunch to put a renewed focus on delivery.

“With a crucial Budget ahead, Rachel Reeves’ personal ratings are comparable to Kwasi Kwarteng’s after the notorious October 2022 Budget, which shows how important it is for the government to start turning around public worries over the economy and public services.”

He added: “Reform’s 12-point lead confirms the party’s strong performance this year, helped by ongoing public concern over immigration but also wider discontent over the state of the nation, allowing Reform to take on the mantle of change.

“Nigel Farage is also viewed as the most capable Prime Minister, but in truth there is little enthusiasm for any of the party leaders, and while one of his strengths is the keen backing he receives from his own base, the rest of the public still have doubts.

But there is no sign of a revival for the Conservatives, who still bump along at the lowest vote share we have ever recorded for the party, raising further questions about Kemi Badenoch’s ability to cut through.”