Keir Starmer has insisted he will remain at the helm of the Labour Party going into the next general election, despite a week of bitter briefing wars, collapsing discipline inside government, and polling that shows Labour voters rapidly losing confidence in him.
The Prime Minister made the declaration as a new YouGov poll for The Times revealed deep unease among Labour supporters. Nearly half of Labour voters now believe he should step down before the next election.
According to the survey of 2,100 people, almost a quarter want him to resign immediately, while just over one in five think he should quit at some point before polling day.
In an interview with The Mirror, Starmer tried to shut down rumours of a looming leadership challenge. Asked directly whether he planned to lead Labour into the next vote, he replied:
“Yes, I will. Let me be really clear, every minute that’s not spent talking about and dealing with the cost of living is a minute wasted on the political work of this Government.”
He added that his focus remained on easing financial pressures on families:
“I remain utterly focused on what matters to me most, which is bearing down on the cost of living and making people feel better off.”
The Prime Minister said families wanted to “give their kids a treat, go out for a meal, have a holiday, get on and progress, and feel safe and secure”.
Attempt to Draw a Line Under Chaos
His comments come after a bruising few weeks in which Labour found itself mired in accusations of disloyalty, feuding among senior figures, and speculation about a coup attempt. Downing Street aides issued unusual warnings that any bid to unseat Starmer could rattle the financial markets, a sign of just how seriously the threat was being taken.
Both Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood were forced to deny they were positioning themselves for a leadership contest, following a wave of anonymous briefings.
Adding to the sense of disorder, the Government U-turned on plans to raise income tax, a proposal that would have breached its own manifesto and sparked widespread anger among Labour MPs.
Flagship Migration Policy Overshadowed
While Mahmood unveiled what Labour billed as the largest overhaul of the asylum system since the Second World War, Starmer largely avoided the subject in his interview, instead emphasising the economy. The new asylum proposals aim to accelerate deportations and curb what ministers describe as “pull factors” attracting illegal migration.
Facing criticism from within his own parliamentary party, Starmer defended the policy:
“We inherited a broken asylum system just as we inherited a broken economy, broken public services, a broken NHS. So we have got to pick it up and fix it.”
He said Labour needed to “stop people arriving who shouldn’t be here” and ensure the removal of those found not to be legitimate refugees.
However, he insisted that the cost of living remained the priority for voters and promised the upcoming 26 November Budget would have “Labour values right through it”.
The Prime Minister rejected suggestions that Labour was drifting toward Reform UK’s positions on migration.
“Reform do not have any answers… They feed off grievance… they are driven by a toxic division that will tear our country apart.”
He described Reform as “peddlers of snake oil” and contrasted them with what he called Labour’s plan for “patriotic national renewal”.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed also sought to bolster the Government’s position, insisting that every Labour MP had been elected on a manifesto commitment to secure Britain’s borders. He told Sky News it was essential to “end this vile trade in human lives”.
Pressed on whether he was proud to serve under Starmer, Reed replied “absolutely”, claiming migration was a priority issue on doorsteps.
A Kiss of Death for Those He Backs?
Despite Starmer’s insistence that he remains firmly in control, the week’s turmoil has revived a recurring criticism: that Starmer’s public backing has often preceded the political demise of those he attempts to support.
Some Conservative commentators have already suggested that his endorsement might be the “kiss of death”, noting that several high-profile figures he previously championed, including Angela Rayner and multiple former Cabinet ministers, quickly found themselves weakened or ousted shortly after receiving his vocal support.
After the latest polling collapse and a government rattled by internal warfare, the question now being asked in Westminster is: has Sir Keir given himself the kiss of death as well?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks in 10 Downing Street. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street
