UK Green Party Surges Ahead of Starmer’s Labour in a New Poll

*Green Party leader Zack Polanski attends a campaign event ahead of the Gorton and Denton by-election in February 2026 in Denton, England. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images*

In an astonishing poll out on Tuesday, the UK’s Green Party overtook Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, reflecting a seismic shift in UK politics after years of the centrist establishment parties leading the pack.

The hard-right Reform UK still leads the weekly [YouGov voting intention poll][1] at 23%, down one point from last week, while the Greens jumped four points to 21% – *five points *ahead of Labour, as well as the Conservatives, which are both down two points at 16%.

What’s particularly stunning is that the Green Party is now the most popular party in the UK for all age groups under 50, according to the poll.

About a quarter of those surveyed who backed Labour in 2024 said they would now support the Greens in a general election, while roughly the same percentage of 2024 Conservative voters say they would back Reform UK.

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Tuesday’s results are a significant turnaround from UK political norms, as the two centrist parties, Labour and Conservative, [typically compete][3] for first place in the polls while the rest lag behind.

The results come just days after the Greens won a historic victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election in a [blow to Starmer’s Labour Party][4], which has held the seat for years.

*Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer and Green Party leader Zack Polanski celebrate at an election rally in Manchester, England, after Spencer won the by-election on Feb. 26, 2026. Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images*

As Owen Jones, a UK political columnist and **Zeteo** contributor, [put it][5] on social media: the recent election is convincing Labour voters that the Green Party is not “a wasted vote.”

The results also come as the [UK government’s approval rating][6], with Labour in charge, hits just *12%, *as Starmer faces scrutiny over the recent arrest and [investigation into Peter Mandelson][7], his former ambassador to the US, who is accused of leaking sensitive information to child rapist Jeffrey Epstein.

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[1]: https://x.com/YouGov/status/2028765671304167655/photo/1
[2]: https://zeteo.com/subscribe?
[3]: https://yougov.com/en-gb/trackers/voting-intention
[4]: https://zeteo.com/p/uk-green-party-won-historic-victory
[5]: https://x.com/owenjonesjourno/status/2028766399082934688?s=46
[6]: https://x.com/YouGov/status/2028833898734489624
[7]: https://zeteo.com/p/mandelson-epstein-labour-starmer-corruption
[8]: https://zeteo.com/p/uk-green-party-surges-ahead-labour-starmer-poll?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share


https://zeteo.com/p/uk-green-party-surges-ahead-labour-starmer-poll