Keir Starmer has been branded the worst Labour Prime Minister of all time by his own voters in a humiliating blow. A new poll of Labour voters found he was considered the least successful Prime Minister the party has ever produced. And more than a third of Labour voters said their party’s chances of winning the next general election would be improved if Sir Keir resigned and let someone else take over.

The survey, by JL Partners for the Independent, comes as Sir Keir prepares for a challenging new year including elections in May which could see Labour lose ground in the Welsh and Scottish Parliaments, as well as English local councils. The Government is gearing up for fresh rows with its own MPs over ongoing efforts to limit sickness benefits, plans to limit jury trials and a controversial digitial ID card scheme.

The second most unpopular Labour Prime Minister among the party’s own supporters was Tony Blair, whose reputation never recovered after the controversial decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

The poll found 38 per cent of people who voted Labour in the 2024 general election said the party would be more popular with a new leader, compared to just 13 per cent who said it would do worse.

There is no agreement about who should replace Sir Keir, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham backed by 19 per cent of Labour supporters with former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner the choice of ten per cent.

Deputy party leader Lucy Powell is the preferred choice of nine per cent, with health secretary Wes Streeting and energy secretary Ed Miliband both supported by six per cent.

There are reports that Mr Burnham is keen to return to Westminster as an MP, which he would need to do in order to stand for the leadership.

Along with Ms Powell and Ms Rayner, he is seen as a candidate of the “soft left”.