Elon Musk has waded into British politics by calling for a “new election in Britain” after a fresh wave of polling data revealed a sharp decline in support for Labour.
A YouGov survey commissioned by The Times suggests that most voters view Sir Keir Starmer’s party as “incompetent”, “dishonest” and “unsuccessful”. Many respondents expect the prime minister to fall short on the policy milestones he recently set out.
In response to the polling, the Tesla and SpaceX entrepreneur took to Twitter, writing: “A new election should be called in Britain.” He also urged voters to support Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, tweeting: “Vote Reform. it’s the only hope.”
The latest results arrive on the heels of an underwhelming reaction to October’s Budget, with just 21 per cent of respondents saying they trust Labour on economic matters, compared with 24 per cent favouring the Conservatives. Starmer used his New Year’s Day address to call 2025 a “year of rebuilding” as he vowed to restore public services and champion national prosperity.
Yet Labour has reportedly lost 33 of about 150 contested council seats since the most recent General Election, with the Conservatives gaining 24 and Reform UK picking up seven. A recent More in Common poll indicates Labour would lose 200 seats from its 411-majority if a General Election were held today. This would allow Reform UK to leapfrog the Liberal Democrats and become the third-largest parliamentary party, netting 72 seats — with many high-profile Cabinet figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, projected to lose theirs.
Luke Tryl, executive director of More in Common UK, emphasised that while the findings are not a direct forecast for the next election, “it confirms the fragmentation of British politics that we saw in July’s election has only accelerated in Labour’s six months in office”.
Farage’s Reform UK appears poised to secure its first seats in Wales, with notable inroads also projected in parts of England such as South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear. The polling shows the party in second place in over 200 constituencies — a further sign of the political volatility currently gripping Britain.
