LONDON: As far-right protests are scheduled for Wednesday and thousands of riot police are deployed across Britain, a new YouGov survey reveals widespread discontent with the government’s handling of the riots, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The survey indicates strong condemnation of the riots among the British public, with 85% denouncing the violence and only 7% expressing support. Broader protests receive mixed reactions; while one-third of the population supports them, 54% oppose them.
Even among Reform UK voters, who are generally more supportive, only 21% approve of the riots. Furthermore, only 8% of Britons sympathize with the rioters, and 76% believe they do not represent the majority of the population.
Keir Starmer’s description of the rioters as “far-right thugs” has elicited mixed responses. While 67% agree with the term ‘thugs’ and 52% support labeling them as ‘far-right’, only 23% consider them ‘terrorists’. Public satisfaction with Labour’s crisis management is low, with only 31% approving of Starmer’s handling of the situation and nearly half (49%) disapproving.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper faces similar criticism, with only 23% approving of her performance. The support for Starmer and Cooper is generally higher among Labour and Liberal Democrat voters, while Conservative and Reform UK voters are more critical.
Although 52% of respondents believe the police are managing the riots well, confidence in their ability to prevent further violence is low, with only 38% expressing trust in their effectiveness.
The government, only a month into its term, has pledged a firm response. Over 6,000 specialist officers are on standby, with more than 425 people arrested and at least 120 charged. Recent convictions include a 19-year-old sentenced to two months in prison and other individuals charged with violent disorder and racial incitement.
Criticism of Starmer continues to mount. Former Labour MP Tom Harris criticized Starmer for failing to address the crisis effectively.
Political commentator Owen Jones and Novara Media’s Rivkah Brown have also criticized Starmer, suggesting his response fails to address the underlying issues of racism and Islamophobia within the British establishment. Starmer has responded by emphasizing a tough legal stance against those inciting disorder.
