Keir Starmer Faces Poll Nightmare as Tories Overtake Labour for the First Time in Months

In a surprising twist in the run-up to what could be a pivotal general election year, a new poll has revealed the Conservative Party has overtaken Labour for the first time in several months. The results come at an especially awkward time for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, just as the political focus sharpens around the upcoming spring statement.

The poll, conducted by More in Common between 22 and 24 March, shows the Tories climbing to 25 percent — up by one point from the previous week. Labour, on the other hand, has seen a one-point dip, bringing them down to 24 percent. While the gap is narrow, the symbolic significance of the shift could carry weight in the coming weeks.

Even more striking is that Labour is now polling neck-and-neck with Reform UK, which also stands at 24 percent despite slipping slightly. For a party that has spent months comfortably leading in most national surveys, the sudden shift suggests growing volatility in public opinion — and signals potential vulnerabilities in Labour’s message or positioning, as reported Daily Express.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Starmer, who is under mounting pressure to clearly define Labour’s economic vision ahead of key fiscal announcements. With voters increasingly concerned about cost-of-living issues, public services, and national security, the margin for error is shrinking fast for the opposition leader.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats remain steady at 12 percent, maintaining a modest but consistent presence in the polls. However, it’s the Green Party that has experienced a notable surge, climbing three points to land at 10 percent. That upward trend reflects a growing appetite among certain segments of the electorate for more environmentally focused and progressive policies.

Even the Scottish National Party has seen a minor bump, moving up to three percent in the same polling period. While that figure may seem low, any movement upward can be significant in tightly contested regions or under proportional systems.

For Labour, this is a sobering reality check. After months of leading the charge, the party now finds itself not only sharing ground with Reform UK but also looking over its shoulder as the Conservative campaign machine shows signs of revival. With the general election expected within months, Labour’s lead is no longer a given — and Starmer’s team may need to recalibrate its messaging quickly to regain momentum.

Although the poll doesn’t spell outright disaster for Labour, it clearly marks a shift in the political winds. Whether it’s the result of messaging missteps, leadership perceptions, or simply voter fatigue, the challenge for Starmer is to turn things around before these numbers turn into a trend.