The Duran Podcast Starmer popularity problems... Solution, delay elections
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Jan 17, 2026 The conversation dives into the Labour government's controversial decision to postpone local elections, utilizing a rarely invoked emergency clause. There's a focus on Starmer's plummeting popularity and the hostile reception Labour canvassers face. The motives behind the delay suggest a strategic move to safeguard local power and avoid electoral accountability. Legal challenges loom, which may prolong the situation. A noticeable lack of public protest raises concerns about political demoralization, reflecting a broader trend of diminishing electoral participation across Western democracies.
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Labour's Unprecedented Low Polling
- Keir Starmer's Labour is unusually unpopular, polling around 15–18% and stuck there for months.
- Alexander Christoforou highlights canvassers hearing extremely hostile reactions when they knock on doors.
Elections Postponed Under Emergency Clause
- The government is postponing local elections citing a 2000 law that allows delays in emergencies.
- Christoforou calls the use of local government reorganizations as 'emergencies' unprecedented and politically motivated.
Millions Affected, Labour Stays In Place
- About 3.8 million people face postponed elections, mainly in England and Wales outside London and Scotland.
- Christoforou notes more postponements affect Labour-controlled councils, preserving party control and local structures.