Labour members rally around Cabinet as the threat of Reform looms larger
Survation’s third Labour members’ poll in partnership with LabourList – the first since Reform’s success in May’s local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election – shows almost all Cabinet members receiving a boost to their net favourability ratings amidst Reform continuing to be seen as the Labour Party’s sole threat (with the Conservatives barely registering as a serious contender).
Favourability gains for Cabinet members
Almost all Cabinet members have received a boost in their net favourability scores of nearly +8 points on average compared to our last polling, with the sole exception of Yvette Cooper (-2), rebounding from the lowpoint of the Spring Statement.
Angela Rayner has made significant gains (+25) to reach a net favourability rating of 71% following her leaked memo to the Chancellor proposing tax rises, closing the gap between her and Ed Miliband who still takes first place in the league table with a net favourability rating of 74%.
Even those in the relegation zone of the league table have seen meaningful improvements to their ratings: Rachel Reeves (+13), Liz Kendall (+10), and Keir Starmer (+6). Despite this, none have been able to extricate themselves from the bottom three.
Though the membership was relatively split over the question of whether or not there should be a change of leadership going into the next General Election (42% in favour; 40% not), they identified two clear frontrunners to replace Keir Starmer if he was to no longer lead the Party – Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner. Their net favourability ratings have clearly translated into leadership viability (Burnham’s currently on 82%), appearing in the top three candidates of 57% and 47% of the membership respectively. Moreover, Burnham was the first choice of 29% of the membership whilst Rayner was for 20%.
Beyond the top two, the field quickly thins out, with Wes Streeting taking a distant third, being the first choice of 8% of members and in the top three of 21%. Others who did well in the cabinet league table have not seen their success translate into being a serious leadership contender, with the likes of Ed Miliband (in the top three of 14%) falling behind Clive Lewis, and Sadiq Khan (whose net approval is on 73%) being seen as a less favourable leadership alternative than ‘Someone else’.
Reform continue to be seen as the biggest electoral threat to Labour, with the Conservatives barely registering on the membership’s radar
Reform continues to be seen as the biggest electoral threat by 72% (+5) of the membership, with the Conservatives trailing in a barely perceptible second on 7% (-8). Their success in the local elections and Runcorn and Helsby by-election, coupled with the Conservative Party’s ongoing woes and Badenoch’s lack of leadership presence, has made Reform the only credible threat in the eyes of the Labour membership.
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Get the data
Survation conducted a poll of 1,304 Labour party members via LabourList’s database between 30th May and 1st June 2025. Tables are available here.
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