By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2024-11-25 12:12:23 | Updated at 2024-11-25 14:50:26
2 hours ago
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that his Government is continuing to "not go down well with the public" as millions of Britons call for another General Election.
In an online petition, created by Michael Westwood, more than two million people have backed calls for another election, just months after Labour's landslide victory against the Tories.
Westwood's petition reads: "I would like there to be another General Election. I believe the current Labour Government have gone back on the promises they laid out in the lead up to the last election."
With Starmer's popularity plummeting in the opinion polls, the petition becomes the latest blow to the PM's first chapter in his premiership.
Speaking to GB News, CEO of Electoral Calculus Martin Baxter claimed that Labour's messaging since coming into power has "not been great", and Starmer so far is "not going down well with the public".
Baxter explained: "He's not used his initial honeymoon period with the voters - when you have the big majority and the mandate, he should kind of explain who he is politically and what he wants to accomplish.
"We've had a lot of negative comments about how bad the country is, and then the Budget was on the whole bad news for many people, who are paying more taxes. So the messaging I think has not been great."
Offering his suggestion as to why the public has become so disapproving of the Labour Government, Baxter claimed that some voters may have been expecting a "Tony Blair-style leader" and another edition of "New Labour", but didn't get it.
"They thought it was going to be another edition of New Labour, but he has not governed as New Labour, the noises have been more pro-union, student union politics kind of debating style, plus increased taxes and increased public spending.
"It's a bit more old Labour, going back to people like Jim Callaghan in the 70s. And it is so far not going down well with the public."
Citing the petition, Baxter was asked if it has a chance of being debated in Parliament, he stated that as it has surpassed the 100,000 signatures needed to be considered for a debate, they "have to have one".
Baxter stated: "I believe it has to be debated if it gets to 100,000, so I think they have to have a debate. But is Keir Starmer going to follow the suggestion of the petition? I think not.
Baxter told GB News that 'pressure will build' on Labour if Britons continue to push for another general election
GB News
"But equally, it will have some effect on Labour MPs."
Warning of the impact of Labour MPs who hold "marginal" seats, Baxter continued: "It's worth remembering that the last election, although Labour won a huge number of seats, there's more marginal constituencies than there have been in many decades.
"And many of these marginal seats are Labour. So there will be Labour MPs who are beginning to look at the polls thinking, my position is not as safe as I would like it to be.
"I think it's early days to talk about revolts and rebellions in the Labour Party. But if the popularity continues this low or gets worse, then pressures will build."
