Blow For Starmer As More Than 4 In 5 Brits Think Labour Is Handling Cost Of Living Crisis Poorly

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pictured during a bilateral meeting with Sweden's Prime Minister, at the Joint Expeditionary Force JEF Leaders' Summit in Helsinki, Finland, Thursday March 26, 2026. Only one in 10 Brits believe Keir Starmer is handling the cost of living crisis well, according to a new poll. YouGov found more than four in five (83%) of the general public think the government is managing the economic problems badly. Even among 2024 Labour voters, only 35% told the pollsters the party is doing a good job with rising bills. More than half of Brits (53%) say the cost of living is a major problem facing the UK right now – more than any other issue. But only 15% of respondents said they believe Labour considers it to be a priority, though that is more than other parties. Just 13% think the Tories believe the cost of living is an important issue and 12% feel the same about the Lib Dems. That drops to 11% when asked about the Greens and 9% on Reform UK. The news will come as a blow to the prime minister as he put his ability to handle the rising cost of living at the heart of his local elections campaign. Speaking from Wolverhampton on Monday, Starmer said his party “understood whatever is going on in the world, whatever is going on in politics, and there’s a lot in both, most people are concerned most of all about the cost of living”. The PM announced a lower energy price cap and an increase in the minimum wage this week in the hope of winning back some voters. It comes as Donald Trump’s war in Iran continues to push global energy prices up. Four in 10 Brits told YouGov they are already struggling to afford food and energy costs – at least occasionally – and half say their household finances have worsened over the past 12 months. A further 69% think the UK economy has worsened over the last year with 67% expecting it to deteriorate further over the next 12 months. Labour are expected to face a bloodbath in the May elections. Voters will elect new representatives in the Welsh parliament of the Senedd, in Scotland’s parliament Holyrood, and for some mayoral authorities and English councils. Subscribe to the Commons People podcast The HuffPost UK politics team take a look at the week in Westminster and the repercussions of the motions and personality clashes. Listen on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Audioboom , Google Podcasts , Deezer and more. Related... Starmer Slams Tories And Reform's 'Utterly Reckless' Iran Plans In Local Election Campaign Launch Starmer Makes His Decision Not To Follow Trump Into War A Selling Point Ahead Of Local Elections Here All Year Keir: Why Labour MPs Now Think Starmer Will Not Be Ousted In May

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