Keir Starmer Criticized for Traveling  too much time Abroad and Avoiding Problems at Home”

Sir Keir Starmer has been criticized for spending too much time abroad on official trips, with some suggesting it looks like he’s avoiding issues at home as Labour’s support in the polls drops.

The Prime Minister’s personal approval rating has also hit a low point since his landslide victory in July. A YouGov poll for *The Times* in mid-December showed his net favorability rating had fallen to -41, the worst it’s ever been. Two-thirds of Britons (66%) have a negative opinion of him, while only 25% view him positively.

The Government’s overall popularity is also at its lowest. Between December 21 and 23, 62% of Britons disapproved of its performance, while only 17% approved. Even Labour supporters are divided, with 38% disapproving and 34% approving of the party they voted for.

Bloomberg reported that Starmer has traveled more during his first six months in office than any recent prime minister. He has spent 31 days on international trips, significantly more than the 19-day average of his predecessors since Tony Blair in 1997 (excluding Liz Truss, who served only seven weeks). Since taking office, he’s visited 13 countries, including France, the US, and Germany three times each.

Victoria Honeyman, a professor of British politics at the University of Leeds, noted that being active on the international stage can be beneficial. However, she warned that if the government’s domestic performance doesn’t improve, critics might view his trips as an attempt to avoid responsibility.

A YouGov survey in mid-December also found that nearly half of Labour voters (46%) felt disappointed by the party’s performance, despite expecting better. Only 28% think Labour is doing well, a figure that drops to just 10% among the general public.