Bombshell new poll shows Labour election drubbing as Starmer faces huge mutiny

A new poll shows Labour could be the fourth-biggest party come the next election as Sir Keir Starmer fights for his political life. The latest YouGov voting intention poll for The Times and Sky News shows Reform UK leading on 28% of the vote, up three points on last week’s poll and the party’s largest lead on YouGov to date.

The Conservatives are on 17%, while both the Greens and Labour are tied on 16%, with Labour down two points. The Liberal Democrats stand at 13%. The results come after Labour suffered significant losses in the local elections, losing control of several councils, including key London boroughs such as Lewisham, where the Greens secured an outright majority, and Lambeth.

Labour MP Catherine West issued a direct challenge to the leadership at the weekend. She told Cabinet ministers that if they did not put forward a candidate to replace Sir Keir by Monday, she would seek the backing of colleagues to trigger a leadership contest herself – although she subsequently backtracked.

The PM delivered a reset speech on Monday in which he acknowledged the scale of the setback and promised bolder action on the major challenges facing the country, including closer alignment with the EU.

He insisted he would not resign and would continue to focus on delivery, although pressure is mounting.

The poll highlights a highly fragmented political landscape.

Reform UK has capitalised on voter concerns around immigration and the cost of living, while the Greens have made notable gains in urban areas.

The findings raise the prospect of Labour finishing fourth in a future general election, which would mark a significant historical reversal for the party.

With the next election still some years away, the coming weeks will test whether Sir Keir can stabilise his party or whether the pressure for change will intensify further.