LONDON – Public approval of Prime Minister Keir Starmer has increased as he takes a more active role in international diplomacy, particularly in addressing the ongoing Ukraine crisis, according to a new opinion poll. An Ipsos UK survey for The Times revealed that 30% of Britons now believe Starmer is performing well as prime minister, marking a rise from 23% last month. However, 45% still view his leadership negatively.
Starmer has recently positioned himself as a key diplomatic figure, meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on February 27 before hosting a high-level summit in London on March 2, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders discussed a path toward peace. At the same time, Starmer has worked to shield Britain from potential U.S. tariffs under Trump’s shifting policies.
The polling, conducted online between March 4 and 5, comes as European leaders push forward with plans to bolster defense spending. In London, discussions led to an agreement to draft a peace proposal for Washington, while EU leaders formally endorsed greater investment in military capabilities.
According to Ipsos, public sentiment on defense funding is also shifting, with 44% of respondents now in favor of increased military spending—despite the potential for higher taxes, increased government borrowing, or cuts to public services. This represents a slight rise from 42% in February. The survey was conducted among 981 adults aged 18 to 75 across Britain.