Jeremy Corbyn has suffered a steep fall in public approval during a month dominated by in-fighting over the Syria war vote, an exclusive poll reveals today.
Ipsos MORI found that net satisfaction with the Labour leader’s performance had plunged 14 points and, for the first time, half the public are unhappy with the way he is doing his job.
The research also found that the public prefers how David Cameron and Labour shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn are handling the Syria crisis.
Only 29 per cent backed Mr Corbyn’s handling of the situation, compared with 35 per cent who liked the way Mr Benn was dealing with it.
In the dramatic Commons debate on airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, Mr Corbyn made a fiercely anti-war speech and opposed the action, while Mr Benn urged MPs to vote to take action against IS “fascists” who were plotting acts of terrorism against Britain.
Among Labour supporters, Mr Corbyn is ahead of Mr Benn for his handling of the crisis, by 52 to 31. Among supporters of other parties, Mr Benn’s lead is almost two to one, at 40-21. David Cameron had the highest approval for handling the Syria crisis, at 38 per cent. However, only nine per cent of the public think that military action will make Britain safer, with 44 per cent thinking it will make the country less safe and 44 per cent thinking it will make no difference. Londoners were more likely to think that Britain would be less safe after airstrikes, probably reflecting perceptions that the capital would be a prime target for terrorists.
Women, young people and Labour supporters were also the most likely to feel less safe.
It took more than a year for Ed Miliband to reach the point where 50 per cent of voters were dissatisfied with him, compared with three months for Mr Corbyn.
Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos MORI, said Mr Corbyn had “clearly taken a hit” over the past month.
“Our trend data shows it’s not unusual for opposition leaders to find it hard to get through to the public, but Jeremy Corbyn is dividing opinion more quickly than most,” he said.
In the latest clash over Mr Corbyn’s leadership, Lord Mandelson warned that Labour was turning into two parties. The former Cabinet minister said a split was emerging between disenchanted long-term members and Left-wingers flocking to join up under Mr Corbyn.
Lord Mandelson said that “the real members of the Labour party” were leaving. Party sources denied a claim made by his supporters that 30,000 members had quit since Mr Corbyn took over.
