The level of “abuse and hatred” across social media was partly responsible for Sir Keir Starmer’s record unpopularity amongst voters, a government minister has said.
Housing minister Steve Reed said online abuse targeted at “the guy at the top” was “shocking”, as he sought to explain the public’s dislike to the outgoing prime minister after just two years in office.
Sir Keir has struggled to maintain positive ratings amongst voters since he became prime minister in 2024, with an November 2025 Ipsos poll indicating he was the least popular prime minister since its records began in 1977.
Asked about dislike towards Sir Keir Starmer on Sunday, Mr Reed told Sky News that the figures reflect “how people feel about this country” and also the changing nature of social media.
“Well, first of all, you get the mixed views about Keir Starmer, as you do about any other leader, but I recognise the point that you’re making,” he said.
“Each of the last four prime ministers, in turn, has become the least popular prime minister ever, that says something about how people feel about this country, and that sentiment crystallises in the figure of the prime minister.
“But I think what’s changing as well is social media, the level of abuse and hatred that we see targeted at all sorts of public figures, but particularly the guy at the top, it really is quite shocking these days, and we need to be thinking much more about how we get more positive, hopeful, and optimistic messages out to the country through that same social media channel.”
But Mr Reed insisted that Andy Burnham had a “positive” message to counter negative messages on social media, telling the broadcaster: “That is something I think Andy Burnham did incredibly well, both while he was mayor of Manchester and in the Makerfield by-election.”
Senior Labour figures have insisted the party is united behind leadership frontrunner Mr Burnham after his election in the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham defied national trends to increase Labour’s vote share in the contest this month following its disastrous set of local election results in May, which intensified calls for Sir Keir’s resignation.
Labour has come under pressure to call a snap election as the party prepares to install a new figure in Downing Street following Sir Keir resignation.
His likely successor, Mr Burnham, has so far indicated he will not call for a national contest, as some MPs fear a snap election could see them lose their seats to Reform UK or the Greens.
Housing minister Steve Reed said on Sunday that “the public do not want a general election” as he called for the transition in No 10 to be “orderly”.
He added: “The public do not want a general election, and that’s not just my instinct. You can look at the polls that tell us the vast majority do not. They want us to get on with the job.”
However, the question of whether Mr Burnham has the authority to govern based on his mandate from the Makerfield by-election and his party alone could pose a major issue for the former mayor.
Home Office minister Mike Tapp, who opposed Sir Keir being replaced, has publicly called for one, while one of Mr Burnham’s main backers has privately warned: “We will be trapped with the empty 2024 manifesto if he doesn’t go to the country.”
