Rachel Reeves is so unpopular that Britons believe Jeremy Corbyn would make a better Chancellor

Rachel Reeves is so unpopular that Britons believe Jeremy Corbyn would make a better Chancellor
Mel Stride hits out at Chancellor Rachel Reeves as unemployment levels reach five-year high |

GB NEWS

Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 05/01/2026

- 12:08

Ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown is the public's pick for Chancellor, Merlin Strategy's new poll revealed

Britons believe Jeremy Corbyn would make a better Chancellor than Rachel Reeves, a damning new poll has revealed.

In a crushing blow to Britain's first female Chancellor, just 27 per cent of voters said Ms Reeves was doing a good job, compared to 51 per cent who believe she is doing poorly.


Mr Corbyn, who pledged an eyewatering £83billion tax raid as Labour leader in 2019, was handed a net score of minus 13 per cent.

Despite more than half of Britons being unable to name the Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride managed to secure a positive rating of just three per cent.

The public would also prefer three former Conservative Chancellors over Ms Reeves.

Rishi Sunak secured a net zero score, while Sir Jeremy Hunt trailed narrowly behind on minus four per cent.

Meanwhile, George Osborne, who is perhaps best known for implementing austerity, scored minus two per cent.

Merlin Strategy's poll, which surveyed 2,000 Britons, revealed ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown was the public's pick to run the Treasury.

Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves's record has lost stock since unveiling tax hikes

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PA

Mr Brown, who was ridiculed for selling off Britain's gold reserves, scored a net positive rating of six per cent, putting him narrowly ahead of Nigel Farage's potential pick for Chancellor.

Reform UK's policy chief Zia Yusuf, who has been used as Mr Farage's trump card to woo City bosses, received the backing of 27 per cent of voters, with just 23 per cent warning he would do a bad job as Chancellor.

Meanwhile, Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice ended up scoring a net zero rating.

Despite pledging a £10billion wealth tax, Green leader Zack Polanski also fared better than Ms Reeves.

Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn proposed a multi-billion-pound tax raid as Labour leader

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PA

A staggering 26 per cent of voters said Mr Polanski would do a good job, exactly the same proportion as those who fear the Green leader would do badly in No11.

Merlin Strategy founder Scarlett Maguire warned the polling makes terrible reading for Ms Reeves.

The polling guru said: "The public’s top choice to run the economy is Gordon Brown.

"However, strikingly, Rishi Sunak has seen his public image rehabilitated, with 34 per cent saying he would do a good job.

Zia Yusuf

Zia Yusuf emerged as a potential public favourite

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GETTY

"Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride emerges with a good overall number. However, his results indicate he is still largely unknown with the public.

"All of this makes terrible reading for Rachel Reeves, who bottoms out the league table, even coming behind Jeremy Corbyn."

However, the Merlin Strategy poll also revealed Reform UK's push to reassure voters about its fiscal prudence might be paying off.

The survey found 39 per cent trust Reform UK to run the economy, the same proportion as those who do not trust Mr Farage's party.

Gordon Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2001From 1999 to 2002, Gordon Brown sold around half of Britain's gold | PA

In contrast, 49 per cent distrust Labour compared to 34 per cent who trust the party,

The Tories also registered a net negative score on minus five per cent.

Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats matched Reform UK's net zero score, albeit on a slightly lower proportion of 33 per cent.

Meanwhile, 37 per cent distrust the Green Party compared to 31 per cent who trust Mr Polanski's party.

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