Keir Starmer‘s approval rating has plunged amid the  winter fuel allowance raid and looming tax hikes, according to a poll.

Research by Ipsos found the proportion who viewed the PM favourably tumbled from 38 per cent in August to 32 per cent this month.

Meanwhile, those who had a negative impression spiked by eight points to 46 per cent – giving a net score of minus 14.

The grim figures underline the hit to Sir Keir from the decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for 10million pensioners.

The move was formally approved by the Commons this week – but some 50 Labour MPs abstained from the crunch vote. There have been warnings that thousands of pensioners could die of cold without the £300 handouts.

Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have also been making clear there is more pain to come in the Budget on October 30, with inheritance tax, capital gains and tax breaks on pensions in the crosshairs.

The percentage who view Sir Keir unfavourably matches worst level recorded for him by Ipsos following the Hartlepool by-election in 2021.

That contest was won by the Tories with a swing of almost 16 per cent.

Ms Reeves has seen her favourability fall by four points to 23 per cent.

At the same time her unfavourability has risen by nine points to 44 per cent.

That gave an overall score of minus 21 in September, compared with minus eight in August.

The proportion of people who view the Labour Party favourably has fallen by four points to 36 per cent, while unfavourability has increased by eight points to 45 per cent.

However, despite some internal party concerns over the winter fuel allowance squeeze, positivity towards the PM and his party among Labour voters remains unchanged at 69 per cent.

The poll found that 39 per cent of the public support the means testing of the winter fuel allowance and 42 per cent are opposed.

There is a stark age divide on the issue. Among the under-55s, 46 per cent support the measure and 32 per cent are opposed, but 58 per cent of those aged 55 and over are against the measure.

More broadly, 55 per cent of those polled said they think Britain is heading in the right direction, an increase of three points from August in the aftermath of riots.

Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos, said: ‘There are some early warning signs in these numbers for Keir Starmer and Labour.

‘Whilst the next general election is several years away – and perceptions of Labour remain stronger than perceptions of the Conservative Party – these figures do represent a sharp drop from those recorded in August.

‘Moving forward, Labour will want to strike the right balance between setting public expectations about the pace of change whilst maintaining confidence that the change Labour supporters voted for in July is coming.’

Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,147 adults aged 18 and above and interviews were conducted between September 6 and 9. Data were weighted to match the wider population.