Following the loss of support from his Cabinet and fellow MPs, Sir Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister outside Downing Street this past Monday. Since taking office in July 2024, his administration has faced mixed results across several key policy sectors.
Polling data indicates a sharp decline in Starmer’s popularity. In August 2024, he held a net popularity rating of minus 7, but by this month, that figure dropped significantly to minus 56. Comparisons from Ipsos suggest his personal favorability fell behind recent predecessors such as Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, and Boris Johnson.
Regarding the economy, the UK saw a 2.3% expansion between mid-2024 and early 2026, trailing only the US within the G7. However, the IMF warns that future growth is likely to slow due to the conflict between the US and Iran. Consequently, UK GDP growth is projected to fall to 0.8% for 2026.
Immigration trends show that while small boat crossings have continued, reaching over 200,000 since 2018, there is a recorded 41% decrease in detections for 2026 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, net migration dropped to 171,000 in 2025, marking a 48% reduction from the prior year.
In healthcare, waiting list progress has been modest; the percentage of patients seen within 18 weeks rose from 58.9% in June 2024 to 65% by April 2026, with the total number of people waiting for treatment decreasing by 400,000. Conversely, household energy bills have risen, with the Ofgem price cap increasing from £1,568 in the summer of 2024 to £1,862 by the summer of 2026.
Finally, efforts to control welfare spending faced legislative setbacks, and costs continue to climb, particularly regarding disability payments. On a social policy note, the removal of the two-child benefit limit is estimated to lift 450,000 children out of relative poverty by the end of the parliamentary term.
