Streeting Gains Ground, Cooper Falters: The Cabinet Ratings That Could Shape Labour’s Future

After one year into charge, the Labour government continues to grapple with stagnant economic growth, NHS reform, immigration tensions and welfare reform backlash, new polling sheds light on how voters rate the top figures in the Labour Cabinet, not just the Prime Minister but also Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

While Keir Starmer remains the dominant political figure in the country, his leadership is increasingly polarising. Meanwhile, other than Wes Streeting who performs well, his Cabinet colleagues face a different problem: public uncertainty, mixed evaluations and in many cases, a lack of visibility. The polling suggests that Labour’s long-term success may hinge not only on Starmer’s decisions but on whether his frontbench can build credibility and connection in their own right.

Starmer: Trusted by Some, Disliked by Many

Keir Starmer’s leadership ratings capture both his prominence and the weight of responsibility he now carries. Just over a third of voters (37%) say they “strongly disapprove” of the Prime Minister’s performance, while 19% “somewhat disapprove”, a combined disapproval rating of 56%. In contrast, only 11% of voters “strongly approve” and another 26% “somewhat approve” for a total approval rating of 37%.

The intensity of disapproval is particularly striking. Starmer is not only disliked by many Reform UK and Conservative voters (with net ratings of -67 and -23, respectively) but also begins to see fractures among young voters, where he previously polled strongest. Among voters aged 18–24, while 44% approve of his leadership, 47% disapprove overall. All other age groups disapprove of Starmer apart from those in the 25–44 age bracket.

Regionally, Starmer received the lowest levels of support from voters in the Eastern (26%), South West (28%) and North East (29%) regions but enjoys by far the most support from Londoners (63%) and picks up some positive ratings in the East Midlands (41%).

Yet despite these harsh numbers, Starmer maintains relatively high trust levels on the economy compared to his Cabinet colleagues. 36% of voters say they trust him (11% strongly, 25% somewhat) to lead Britain through its current economic challenges, just ahead of Rachel Reeves. Still, 57% say they distrust him and the proportion of voters who “strongly distrust” Starmer on economic issues is higher than any of his colleagues at 39%.

In short, Starmer is well known but increasingly blamed for issues that are both inherited and unfolding on his watch. One major issue for Starmer and his government has been communication, whilst Reform UK and Your Party have successfully managed to mobilise online, the Labour Party has struggled to provide clear communication with the British public and where they have managed to cut through, their message isn’t resonating.

Rachel Reeves: Quiet Authority or Political Vulnerability?

As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves has arguably the most high-stakes role after the Prime Minister, yet her ratings suggest a disconnect between power and public perception. Just 32% of voters say they approve of Labour’s economic policies under Reeves (10% strongly approve), while 59% disapprove (21% somewhat, 38% strongly).

Labour’s economic strategy has relied on business tax increases and minimum wage hikes to fund public investment but with GDP per capita up only slightly since the election and a quarter of a million jobs lost in retail and hospitality, many voters may be associating Reeves’ policy with stalled growth. Criticism from business groups over the Autumn Budget and concerns about declining vacancies have also fuelled doubt about Labour’s economic credibility.

Demographically, Reeves performs slightly better among men than women (36% vs 27% approval), this comes despite her pledge for increased childcare and nursery funding. [\[1\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future) She also enjoys greater trust among Labour voters (79%) and Liberal Democrats (39%) but suffers deep unpopularity among Conservatives (-34 net) and especially Reform voters (-76 net).

For Reeves, the question is whether she can shift from being seen as merely cautious and steady to becoming a persuasive economic communicator. With little room for fiscal expansion, she will need to do more with less and convince the public she can.

Yvette Cooper: Mounting Pressure

Few Cabinet positions carry as much pressure as the Home Secretary and for Yvette Cooper, the public response reflects that challenge. Only 8% of voters say they “strongly trust” her handling of immigration and asylum and another 23% say they “somewhat trust” her. That 31% total trust score is offset by a 58% distrust figure, with 38% saying they “strongly distrust” her on the issue.

That’s not surprising, given the tough terrain Cooper is navigating. Labour promised to “smash the criminal boat gangs”, reduce hotel use for asylum seekers and reform the immigration system. But Channel crossings have increased during Labour’s first year, hotel use is up and appeals against rejected claims have surged. The new Border Security Command and legislation criminalising smuggling as terrorism have yet to deliver results that feel tangible to the public. [\[2\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future)

Cooper’s ratings are particularly poor among voters over 65 (only 3% strongly trust her) and among Reform UK and Conservative voters, where her net ratings sit at -72 and -28, respectively. Even among Green voters, 66% say they distrust her on immigration.

Wes Streeting: Quiet Momentum on Health

Wes Streeting is the surprise standout in the polling. While less prominent than Starmer, he now enjoys the highest approval of any Cabinet figure on policy grounds and is the only member with a net positive rating from the public. 42% of voters support his NHS reforms (12% strongly), with 37% opposed. Another 21% remain unsure, suggesting a large pool of potential support as he builds his profile.

Streeting’s advantage may lie in his tone. His frank admission that “the NHS is broken” and his assertive push for reform, including a 10-year plan, GP contract overhaul and scrapping NHS England, have made him one of the more recognisable Labour ministers. [\[3\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future) His approval skews higher among younger voters (35–44s give him a +22 net rating) and among men (47% support). He also polls well with Liberal Democrat voters, 56% of whom back his NHS work and he even enjoys 27% from Reform UK supporters which is significantly higher than his colleagues, suggesting cross-party appeal.

However, Streeting is not immune to scepticism. Among older voters and those in the North East and East Midlands, support softens and 18% overall still say they “strongly oppose” his NHS approach. He also faces scrutiny from healthcare unions, especially after further strike ballots from junior doctors.

Still, in contrast to Cooper and Reeves, Streeting appears to be making the leap from ministerial presence to public resonance, a trend Labour may wish to amplify as NHS reform becomes the defining policy battle of the next two years.

As the Labour government continues to navigate its second year in office, the polling underscores a crucial dynamic: while Keir Starmer remains the face of the administration, his frontbench will be key to securing long-term political stability and public trust. The data suggests that Labour’s electoral strength is still more about rejection of the Conservatives than a full embrace of Labour’s Cabinet.

Starmer, despite his dominance, is a polarising figure, trusted by some, resented by many and increasingly carrying the weight of government performance. Rachel Reeves, though in one of the most consequential roles in government, still struggles to convert economic stewardship into widespread public confidence. And Yvette Cooper faces deep public scepticism on immigration and asylum. Only Wes Streeting appears to be carving out a space as a credible, cross-party communicator.

Ultimately, if Labour hopes to transform its large parliamentary majority into lasting political authority, it must lift its Cabinet out of anonymity and build a government of recognisable, trusted figures. That means clearer communication, better delivery and more individual leadership from its senior ministers in the same way that Streeting has been able to do.

* * *

[\[1\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future) Nursery World

[\[2\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future) BBC News

[\[3\]](/research/streeting-gains-ground-cooper-falters-the-cabinet-ratings-that-could-shape-labours-future) UK Government

Download the data tables for this poll.