Public support for Rishi Sunak reaches all-time low

Labour leader Keir Starmer, continues to outpoll the prime minister as the favourite optiom

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons in London on February 22. UK Parliament / AFP

The public's approval rating for Rishi Sunak has reached its lowest point yet amid widespread pessimism about Brexit and the direction of the UK, a poll has found.

Polling company Ipsos found only 27 per cent of people had a favourable opinion of the Prime Minister in a survey carried out between February 10 and 15, while 46 per cent said they had an unfavourable view.

This represents a drop on last month when 30 per cent of people said they held a favourable view of Mr Sunak and 39 per cent said they held an unfavourable one.

The figures are the worst of his premiership and more in line with the overall favourability rating of his party and his predecessor, Boris Johnson.

The poll of 2,200 British adults found only 25 per cent had a favourable view of the Conservatives, up from 20 per cent when Mr Sunak took over, and 28 per cent had a favourable opinion of Mr Johnson.

But both the Conservatives and Mr Johnson had “unfavourable” scores above 50 per cent.

Meanwhile his opponent, Keir Starmer, continues to outpoll him with a favourability score of 32 per cent, although 39 per cent of people said they had an unfavourable view of the Labour leader.

Rishi Sunak's first 100 days as Prime Minister - in pictures

Rishi Sunak has been British Prime Minister for 100 days. Here The National looks back at his time in No 10 Downing Street. Getty Images

Mr Sunak after being announced as winner of the Conservative Party leadership contest on October 24. Getty Images

King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak to Buckingham Palace where he invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Getty Images

The new Prime Minister makes a speech outside No 10. Getty Images

Mr Sunak arrives at No 10 for the first time as Prime Minister. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street

Mr Sunak holds his first cabinet meeting. Getty Images

Hosting a reception to celebrate Diwali at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

A visit to Croydon University Hospital, south London. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty wearing poppies, with a special poppy collar for their pet Labrador Nova. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the Cabinet Room at No 10. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

King Charles, Mr Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace before Cop27. Getty Images

French President Emmanuel Macron and Mr Sunak at Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Getty Images

Mr Sunak during a call to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from his office. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

On Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

Mr Sunak with journalists on a flight to Bali and the G20 meeting. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

With Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the G20 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. Getty Images

Mr Sunak with US President Joe Biden at the G20 summit. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Getty Images

Mr Sunak meets rescue teams during his visit to Ukraine. Photo: No 10 Downing Street

Mr Sunak and his wife outside No 10 as the Christmas lights are turned on. Getty Images

Mr Sunak joins youth footballers from Wales and England to watch the World Cup match between the two nations. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

The Prime Minister reading congratulations cards from members of the public after being appointed. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

On a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after the announcement that Britain will develop next-generation fighter jets with Italy and Japan. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on a plane to Tallinn. Getty Images

The Prime Minister with troops at the Tapa military base, Estonia. Getty Images

The photo on Mr Sunak's official Christmas card. Photo: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street

Mr Sunak prepares and serves breakfast on a visit to The Passage homeless shelter in London just before Christmas. Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Making his first major domestic speech of the year. Getty Images

On a visit to Harris Academy in Battersea, London. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive at the Tower of London for a meeting. Getty Images

Toasting marshmallows on a visit to the Sea Scouts community group in Muirtown near Inverness. Getty Images

A Q&A session at The Platform in Morecambe, Lancashire, after a community visit to the Eden Project North. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt at Accrington Market Hall with local MP Sara Britcliffe to announce projects under the levelling-up fund. Getty Images

“When Rishi Sunak became prime minister it was notable that his personal poll ratings were significantly better than those of his party," Ipsos research director Keiran Pedley said.

“This increasingly no longer appears to be the case amidst public pessimism about the direction of the country.”

That pessimism was reflected in Ipsos’s finding that 60 per cent of people now think the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Rishi Sunak through the years - in pictures

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces July 4 as the date for the 2024 general election at No 10 Downing Street. Here, The National looks back at his political career. Getty Images

Mr Sunak during local election campaigning in Teesside in May 2024. Getty Images

Mr Sunak presents cupcakes to journalists on board a plane on the way to Warsaw in April 2024. Getty Images

Mr Sunak during a press conference in Downing Street in January after the Safety of Rwanda Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons. Getty Images

Being applauded after his speech at the Conservative Party conference in October 2023. Getty Images

Looking pensive alongside then-home secretary Suella Braverman at No 10 in October 2023. She didn't last much longer in the cabinet. Getty Images

Mr Sunak sits in an old Special Branch police vehicle which was used to transport former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, in July 2023. Getty Images

On board Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover in June 2023. Getty Images

Mr Sunak alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arriving in Japan ahead of the G7 Summit in May 2023. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt sending a message at Accrington Market Hall in January 2023. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Ukraine's capital Kyiv in November 2022. Getty Images

King Charles III welcomes Mr Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak makes a statement outside No 10 in October 2022 after taking office. Getty Images

Mr Sunak arrives inside Number 10 in October 2022. Photo: Simon Walker/ No 10 Downing Street

Greeted by colleagues at Conservative Party HQ after having been announced winner of the leadership contest in October 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak at Westminster Hall in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. PA

Mr Sunak visits his family's old business, Bassett Pharmacy, on the campaign trail in August 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak looks at an NLAW anti-tank launcher during a visit to the Thales Defence System plant in Belfast in August 2022. Getty Images

At a hustings event in Exeter in August 2022. Getty Images

Celebrates England's first goal as he watches the Women's Euro 2022 final in Salisbury in July 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Ms Truss take part in the BBC Leadership debate at Victoria Hall, Hanley, in July 2022. Getty Images

With daughters Krisna and Anoushka and wife Akshata Murthy in July 2022. Getty Images

Opening the Great Ayton Village Fete during the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak and Ms Murthy speak to then-Prince Charles at a British Asian Trust event in February 2022. Getty Images

Mr Sunak arrives at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 when he was chancellor. Getty Images

Holding the budget box as he departs 11 Downing Street to deliver his Autumn Budget in October 2021. Getty Images

At a press conference on the 2021 Budget in London in March 2021. Getty Images

With former prime minister Boris Johnson during a visit to PD Ports on the River Tees in March 2021. Getty Images

Mr Sunak poses with the budget box at 11 Downing Street in March 2021. Getty Images

Meeting staff back at work after being furloughed at Hamleys toy shop in London, December 2020. Photo: HM Treasury

Mr Sunak visits the Imperial Clinic Research Facility at Hammersmith Hospital, London, in November 2020. Getty Images

Lighting a candle for Diwali on Downing Street, November 2020. Getty Images

Working on a speech in his flat above 11 Downing Street in November 2020. Photo: HM Treasury

Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak visit the headquarters of Octopus Energy in London in October 2020. Getty Images

With his 'Winter Economy Plan' outside 11 Downing Street in September 2020. AFP

Decorating a plate at Emma Bridgewater pottery in Stoke pottery in September 2020. Getty Images

Promoting 'eat out to help out' on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in August 2020. Getty Images

A member of the public takes a selfie with Rishi Sunak during a visit to Scotland in August 2020. AFP

Visiting a Wagamama restaurant in central London in July 2020. Photo: HM Treasury

Rishi Sunak visits a Pret A Manger in Westminster in July 2020. HM Treasury

With Mr Johnson at his first Cabinet meeting after a reshuffle at 10 Downing Street in February 2020. Getty Images

Mr Sunak speaks during a general election debate in Cardiff in November 2019. Getty Images

While Mr Sunak has spent the week trying to negotiate a solution to the dispute over the Northern Ireland Protocol, Ipsos found 55 per cent of people thought Brexit has had a negative effect on the UK.

This was the most pessimistic figure for Brexit recorded by Ipsos since the company started asking about the effects of leaving the EU in January 2020.

“Our polling shows strong public concern about the cost of living and public services, whilst Brexit is being viewed more negatively over time as well," Mr Pedley said.

“The Prime Minister will hope he is able to seize the political agenda in the coming weeks and months if he is to have any chance of turning his fortunes around.”