Jeremy Corbyn's Popularity Knocked In Worst Ever Inaugural Labour Leader Poll

Jeremy Corbyn Gets Worst Ever Net Public Backing Vote In Seminal Poll
File photo dated 15/09/15 of Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn who has brought back "soul fire" to the Labour Party but must prove he can be trusted with the economy, according to leading Blairite Liam Byrne.
File photo dated 15/09/15 of Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn who has brought back "soul fire" to the Labour Party but must prove he can be trusted with the economy, according to leading Blairite Liam Byrne.
Rick Findler/PA Wire

Jeremy Corbyn suffered a significant knock today, as he became the first ever Labour Party leader to score a snap net negative satisfaction rating.

The Islington MP, elected with the backing of 59% of party members earlier this month, overall scored -3% among voters who were quizzed on their reaction to his performance so far.

Published on Thursday, the Ipsos MORI survey revealed 33% of voters were satisfied with Corbyn, while 36% were not.

He bagged a dramatically lower net figure than his predecessor Ed Miliband (19% in 2010), and was even trumped by 1980's Labour leader Michael Foot (2%).

Other former politicians he was beaten by include Gordon Brown (16% in 2007), Tony Blair (18% in 1994), John Smith (18% in 1992) and Neil Kinnock (20% in 1983).

He did, though, fair better than opponent David Cameron, who scored 31% upon becoming Tory leader in 2006.

Commenting, MORI's head of political research, Gideon Skinner, said that while the results showed Corbyn was a frontrunner on some counts, Cameron led on "key Prime Ministerial attributes".

“Jeremy Corbyn’s appeal as a different type of politician is clear – the best ratings on honesty, a stronger personality than Ed Miliband, and he's seen to be leading a party concerned about those most in need," Skinner said.

"But David Cameron still dominates on key Prime Ministerial attributes such as being capable and good in a crisis, and the sharp rise in perceptions of Labour as divided should worry the party.”

The news comes as shadow first secretary of state Angela Eagle told The Telegraph Corbyn "may well" end up a more successful leader than his three predecessors.

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