Keir Starmer in poll nightmare as lead over Nigel Farage cut in half

Sir Keir Starmer's lead over Nigel Farage as "best prime minister" has halved in three months, new polling shows. The YouGov survey found that 35% of Britons say Sir Keir would be a better premier than the Reform UK leader.

Meanwhile, 28% picked the Clacton MP over the current PM. It marks an eight-point drop in Sir Keir's lead since the question was last asked in May when it was 44% to 29%.

Mr Farage was backed by respondents over Tory leader Kemi Badenoch by 23% to 21% in their head-to-head.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir was 10 points ahead of Mrs Badenoch 30% to 20% respectively.

When given a choice between the Reform UK leader and Jeremy Corbyn, who is set to launch a new political party, Mr Farage had a narrow lead with 30% to 29%.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir beat the veteran left-winger by 27% to 22%.

Mr Farage scored highest when respondents were asked who would make a good PM.

The Brexiteer was backed by 24% of respondents, compared to 8% for Mrs Badenoch, 19% for Mr Corbyn and 11% for Deputy PM Angela Rayner.

Just 9% said Sir Keir has been a good prime minister so far, with 55% saying he has been poor or terrible.

YouGov polled 2,216 adults in Britain from August 3-4.