Public approval for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has risen as he takes a more active role in diplomatic efforts surrounding the war in Ukraine, according to a new opinion poll.
Starmer met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on February 27 and later hosted discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and European leaders in London on March 2. His involvement as a key intermediary has intensified, with a focus on both supporting Ukraine and safeguarding Britain from potential U.S. tariffs.
A recent Ipsos UK poll for The Times revealed that 30% of Britons believe Starmer is performing well as prime minister, marking an increase from 23% in the previous month. However, 45% of respondents still feel he is doing a poor job.
The survey, conducted online from March 4 to 5, reflects a growing public interest in Starmer’s diplomatic stance. His meeting with Trump took place just a day before Zelenskiy’s high-stakes Oval Office encounter with the U.S. president, which highlighted shifts in American foreign policy toward Ukraine.
During the March 2 London talks, European leaders agreed to formulate a peace proposal to present to Washington, while the European Union moved forward with plans to boost defense spending.
The Ipsos poll also found that 44% of Britons now support increased government expenditure on defense, even if it requires higher taxes, additional borrowing, or reductions in funding for other public services. This marks a slight rise from 42% in February.
The survey sampled 981 British adults aged 18-75. Photo by No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.