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In a bid to revitalize both his own and the Labour Party’s standing as the new year commences, the Prime Minister has drawn stark distinctions between his government and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Sir Keir Starmer informed his political cabinet of his intention to make clear to voters that the choice lies between his party “renewing the country” and Reform, which he accused of capitalizing on “grievance, decline and division”.
Since Labour’s decisive victory in the 2024 general election, both the party and the Prime Minister’s approval ratings have seen a significant decline in opinion polls.
Reform has consistently held a lead in the polls and aims to further consolidate its position in the upcoming May council elections in England, as well as parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales.
During a meeting with his political cabinet – excluding civil servants but including Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell – Sir Keir emphasized that the government should “relentlessly” focus on the cost of living and deliver “change people can feel”.
He framed the choice as one between “a Labour government renewing the country or a Reform movement that feeds on grievance, decline and division”.
“They aspire to a weaker state, seek to inject animosity into our communities, and aim to appease [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. This is the defining struggle of our political lives, and one we must embrace wholeheartedly,” he stated.
A spokesperson for Reform UK asserted that the Prime Minister’s “obsession” with the party reflects his awareness of the threat it poses to his “failing government”.
“Two years ago, Labour pledged to bring the cost of living under control. Since then, they have failed on nearly every front, with household bills soaring, taxes skyrocketing, and economic growth stagnating.”
“They simply cannot be trusted,” the spokesperson concluded.
Sir Keir also addressed his ministers, stating: “I do not underestimate the scale of the task before us. But I have unwavering confidence in this team.”
“Governments do not fall because polls decline. They fall when they lose faith or resolve. We will do neither.”
In anticipation of a challenging set of elections for Labour in May, speculation has arisen regarding the Prime Minister’s future, with suggestions that he may face a leadership challenge if the party performs poorly in those polls.
Earlier, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated that Labour has “no plan, no agenda” and is led by a “weak prime minister who doesn’t know if he is going to be in the job for much longer”.
She argued that the country needs a government that prioritizes economic security. “Right now, our economy is in freefall,” she added.
The political segment of the meeting at Downing Street followed an official cabinet meeting, attended by civil servants, which lasted less than 10 minutes.
During the initial meeting, Sir Keir informed his senior ministers that their primary objective for 2026 was to demonstrate “hard work, focus and determination” in alleviating the financial burden on households.
His renewed emphasis on cost-of-living issues coincided with his preparations to join world leaders in Paris for a meeting of Ukraine’s allies.
Sir Keir’s latest reset has been overshadowed by President Trump’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the US president’s continued ambitions to take over Greenland.
At the end of 2025, Sir Keir told Parliament’s Liaison Committee he was frustrated at the slow pace of change.
“My experience as prime minister is of frustration that every time I go to pull a lever, there are a whole bunch of regulations, consultations and arm’s length bodies that mean the action from pulling the lever to delivery is longer than I think it ought to be, which is among the reasons I want to cut down on regulation generally and within government.”
At the cabinet meeting on Tuesday he said: “There’s a world of uncertainty and upheaval, but tackling the cost of living remains and must remain our focus.”
He added that voters would judge the government at the next election on whether they had delivered improvements to public services and the NHS.
Sir Keir argued the government’s policies were already paying off, with increases in the minimum wage, the Bank of England’s reductions in interest rates, and help with household energy bills.
This Warm Welcome venue is one of more than 80 across Surrey which are open over the coming months.
Alan Thompson and Jane Innes were childhood friends and reunited at a community hub in Lincoln.
A charity says some families do not realise they are eligible for the winter fuel allowance.
Christopher Marriott says Reform UK has “lost its way” and has become “overly centred” on its leader.
A scrutiny committee says the Manx government’s size and scope should be reduced to cut spending.
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