Survival of the Fittest: Why is there such a high rate of government disapproval in the UK?

Since Starmer’s resignation last week, we have reached 6 resignations of UK prime ministers in the last 10 years. Andy Burnham is now looking to take up the poisoned chalice of leadership, but will it change anything? It is clear that there is an underlying disapproval of the government, irrelevant of party policy, that is making it difficult to stay in power for very long.

If we look at the actual statistics for this issue, it reveals a clear pattern. According to YouGov’s ongoing poll around governmental approval rates, for the last 15 years approval of the government has only overtaken dissaproval once, for three months. This is a harrowing statistic, if taken at face value. It states that the UK public has generally not been happy with the government for over 15 years. But is there more to this than meets the eye?

If we start to look at the more recent statistical analysis from You Gov, we see a different story emerge. The intitial spike in the centre indicates the election of our current labour government, where approval neither positive or negative. The electorate was waiting to see what the government would do. However we begin to see a curving increase in disapproval over the first two years. Why?

This example shows us that, short term results have become a necessity for approval ratings. As we have seen with Starmer, Sunak, Truss, Johnson and May. Each had a plan to improve existing infrastructure or set out new ideas, however they were not quick enough. The curve highlights that in a short period of time, results are expected, and not until they are given enough time for ideas to be implemented, tested and visibly seen, does the mood begin to shift. But in this example, for Starmer, it was too little too late.

So what does this show us about UK politics? I think for one thing it is clear that we are a very judgemental country. We expect the world to be given to us, and we expect it as fast as possible. As is our right, we hold our government accountable when they fail to deliver. But perhaps we should at least let them try first. For politics has become more about keeping power rather than utilising it.

Andy Burnham is now up next for the main role, which if as predicted will most likely take the same shape as his predecessors. Failure to show short term results, and then either resignation or loss at a general election. It appears we have entered a vicious and toxic cycle of politics in recent years. Lets hope that PM’s are given more room and time to deliver their ideas before we are so quick to judge.