US presidential hopeful Kamala Harris could make a fresh start in UK politics if her hopes of winning the keys to the White House are dashed this week, the latest polling suggests.

A third of Britons think the US presidential hopeful would do a better job of running this country than Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, according to pollsters Ipsos.

Just 13 per cent thought the Vice President would do a worse job than the Labour leader, while a third thought she would be “about the same”.

There was no such openness to Donald Trump moving into Downing Street. Forty-five per cent said he would do a worse job than the real PM, with only 27 per cent thinking he would be an improvement.

Brits have paid close attention to the US presidential race, with 49 per cent saying they care who wins – compared with just 31 per cent who said they cared who won the Tory leadership race.

Mr Trump enjoys the strongest British support among people who voted for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the summer election, with 49 per cent wanting the Republican to win and only a quarter cheering on Ms Harris.

Among all British voters, 54 per cent support her and just 21 per cent want to see Mr Trump in the Oval Office.

Fifty-two per cent think Mr Trump winning the election would have a negative impact on Britain’s relationship with the US. Just 15 per cent think a victory for Ms Harris would damage relations.

However, Britons are more likely to say they know a “great deal” about Mr Trump than his rival or leading figures in UK politics.

Twenty-four per cent said his about the Republican candidate – more than for Sir Keir (18 per cent), Ms Harris (11 per cent) or Conservatives Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick (both five per cent).