Rachel Reeves dealt devastating poll blow as Angela Rayner handed huge boost

Rachel Reeves is the least popular Cabinet minister in an influential poll of Labour members. The Chancellor, who has faced fury over scrapping winter fuel payments for pensioners, is at the bottom of Labour List's Cabinet league table with a net favourability score of minus 27.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is just behind on minus 22, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is the third least popular on minus 6. Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband tops the table with a score of 73 in the polling by Survation.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also received a huge boost from 46 in the last polling two months ago to 71 this month, coming second.

Damian Lyons Lowe, chief Executive of Survation, said: “Rayner’s 25-point jump since April 3 suggests members strongly back her performance as Deputy Prime Minister."

Almost all Cabinet members, including Ms Reeves, had a bump in approval ratings from the previous survey which took place just after the spring statement as a row was raging over slashing the welfare bill.

The research also found that most Labour members back a full reversal of winter fuel payment cuts.

The Government has faced an ongoing backlash for stripping the allowance from most pensioners in a bid to save money.

But the Prime Minister last week confirmed that there would be a partial U-turn on the deeply unpopular policy, which was widely blamed for Labour's pummelling at the local elections.

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is first when it comes to who Labour members would pick as the next party leader.

Ms Rayner is second, Health Secretary Wes Streeting comes third and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is four.

Survation polled 1,304 Labour members from May 30 - June 1.