Net Approval Trend: All Leaders
Jul 2024 – May 2026 · Approve minus DisapproveMonthly Net Approval Rating
Key Crossover Points & Events
Moments that moved the approval linesMonthly Data Table
Net approval by leader · Jul 2024 – May 2026| Month | Starmer | Farage | Badenoch | Davey | Denyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24 | -10 | -18 | — | -8 | +2 |
| Sep 24 | -16 | -19 | — | -6 | +3 |
| Nov 24 | -22 | -20 | -8 | -4 | +3 |
| Jan 25 | -27 | -20 | -10 | -2 | +4 |
| Mar 25 | -30 | -20 | -12 | 0 | +4 |
| May 25 | -31 | -20 | -13 | +1 | +5 |
| Jul 25 | -32 | -20 | -13 | +2 | +5 |
| Sep 25 | -33 | -20 | -14 | +3 | +6 |
| Nov 25 | -33 | -20 | -14 | +3 | +6 |
| Jan 26 | -34 | -20 | -14 | +4 | +7 |
| Mar 26 | -35 | -20 | -15 | +4 | +7 |
| May 26 | -35 | -20 | -15 | +5 | +8 |
Source: YouGov / Ipsos monthly tracker. Badenoch data starts Nov 2024. All figures are net approval (Approve % minus Disapprove %).
Tracker Analysis
Starmer: one-way traffic downward
Of all the leaders tracked since GE2024, Starmer shows the most consistent downward trajectory. His only month without a fall was November 2025, when ratings held steady at -33 before resuming their decline. The cumulative drop of 25 points since July 2024 is an unusually sustained collapse for a new Prime Minister.
The Farage floor
Farage's approval line is the most stable of any leader, sitting in a narrow band between -18 and -20 for the entire tracking period. This reflects the deeply entrenched, polarised view the public holds of him: his supporters are consistent and passionate; his opponents are equally firm.
Davey's slow-burn rise
Ed Davey's trajectory is the most notable positive story of the tracker. Moving from -8 in July 2024 to +5 in May 2026, he is the only major leader to have improved his net rating by double digits. His crossing into positive territory in early 2026 marks the first time a major party leader has held a positive net approval rating since the 2024 general election.
See also: leaders comparison — leader approval — voting intention
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Starmer's approval start falling?
Keir Starmer entered office in July 2024 with a net approval of around -10%. His ratings began falling sharply from September 2024, accelerating after the winter fuel payment cut announcement. By January 2025 he was at -27%, and by May 2026 he had reached -35%.
Has any leader improved their approval since GE2024?
Yes. Ed Davey improved from -8% in July 2024 to +5% in May 2026 — a gain of 13 points. Carla Denyer of the Greens has also improved, rising to +8% from +2% at GE2024. Badenoch entered tracking in November 2024 and has drifted slightly more negative since.
What are the key crossover points in the tracker?
The most notable crossover is Ed Davey overtaking Badenoch in March 2026, when Davey moved into positive territory (+4) while Badenoch remained at -15. Davey had already crossed zero net approval in early 2025. Farage's line has been almost flat since GE2024, sitting consistently near -20.