Floundering Keir Starmer admitted he has ‘got to do more’ today as he kicked off a mutinous Labour conference.
The PM tried to emphasise the ‘great things’ achieved during the party’s first year in power, but insisted people were ‘frustrated’ and it would ‘take time’ to ‘change the country’.
He branded Reform policies to abolish settled immigration status ‘racist’ and swiped at ‘navel-gazing’ critics amid mounting questions about his leadership.
‘I just need the space to get on and do the things that I need to do,’ the premier said.
Sir Keir argued he can ‘pull this round’ despite another poll showed the party on track for disaster – with Nigel Farage poised to win a huge majority.
In findings that will spread alarm among activists in Liverpool, the More in Common research estimated that Reform would scoop 373 seats if an election were held now. Labour would be reduced to just 90 MPs, from nearly 400 currently.
Meanwhile, separate polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir’s personal ratings at the lowest level any PM since comparable records began in 1977.
The premier has now outstripped the minus 59 net score reached by both Rishi Sunak and John Major – plunging to a dire minus 66.
In other twists and turns as Sir Keir clings on today:
- The PM refused to go further than saying ‘the manifesto stands’ when challenged on the idea of VAT going up at the Budget;
- Unite has threatened to pull affiliation to Labour unless Rachel Reeves brings forward left-wing measures such as a wealth tax and more borrowing;
- Labour conference has been hit with pro-Gaza protests as Sir Keir struggles to control discontent;
- A poll has found a majority of Scots support splitting the UK.
Floundering Keir Starmer is pleading with Labour to keep the faith today as he kicks off a tumultuous conference
In findings that will spread alarm among activists in Liverpool, More in Common research estimated that Nigel Farage’s insurgents would scoop 373 seats if an election were held now
Meanwhile, separate polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir’s personal ratings at the lowest level any PM since comparable records began in 1977
Asked whether he accepted he was in ‘political trouble’, the Prime Minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: ‘In politics, there are always going to be comments about leaders and leadership, particularly at times like conference.
‘But I always focus on what is it we’re trying to achieve.’
Sir Keir gave the example of a proposed Hillsborough law, ‘righting injustice that’s gone on for 36 years, but also changing the position for thousands of people in the future’.
Sir Keir said ‘there’s a lot we’ve achieved but we’ve got to do more.’
The PM said he had been elected with a ‘mandate to change the country’ but added ‘I always said that would take time’.
Sir Keir insisted he would be ‘judged’ at next election on living standards and whether public services had improved.
Sir Keir told The Sunday Times separately: ‘I think we can pull this round.’
Amid frenzied speculation that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham could seek a return to Westminster to oust him, Sir Keir warned about ‘navel-gazing’.
‘It is the fight of our times and we’ve all got to be in it together,’ he said.
‘We don’t have time for introspection, we don’t have time for navel-gazing.
‘You’ll always get a bit of that at a Labour Party conference, but that is not going to solve the problems that face this country.’
Housing Secretary Steve Reed dismissed the prospect of a shakeup at the top of Labour this morning.
Asked on Sky News if Sir Keir would lead the party into the next election, he said: ‘Absolutely. I’m very proud of the job that he’s doing..’
Mr Reed said the government cannot be diverted by ‘one poll or another’ and go back to the ‘revolving door’ of PMs seen under Tories
Pressed on union demands for a wealth tax, Mr Reed said: ‘We need stability… we will never go back to Liz Truss with this government.’
‘I don’t think Unite will walk… we’ve got to stay the course.’
More in Common used a poll of 20,000 Brits with the so-called MRP technique – which maps characteristics of voters to produce estimated results in every constituency.
It found Mr Farage could enter No 10 with a majority of 96, while Labour would be reduced to just 90 seats and the Tories pushed into fourth place behind the Liberal Democrats.
Labour would be left clinging on predominantly in urban centres such as London, and university towns.
The MRP model was based on surveys carried out between August 8 and September 15.
The results were even more dramatic than similar YouGov research last week, which found Reform would be the largest party but just short of a majority.
Separate polling by More In Common on Labour’s record in Government suggests Sir Keir’s decision to focus his attack on Mr Farage was not cutting through with voters.
Some 62 per cent of voters believe Labour should concentrate on its own plans for Government, compared with 20 per cent who believe they should scrutinise Reform more.
The poll also found Labour’s failures – including the recent exits of Angela Rayner and Lord Mandelson – have had more cut-through with the public than the party’s successes in Government.
Sir Keir hopes that demonstrating his Government can deliver on its promises, such as unleashing a wave of housebuilding, will stem the flow of voters to Reform.
The construction of three new towns will begin before the next election, the Housing Secretary Steve Reed will pledge.
They are likely to be Tempsford in Bedfordshire, Leeds South Bank, and Crews Hill, north London.
Plans for a total of 12 new towns will be taken forward, but those three are the ‘most promising sites’ for early work.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood acknowledged that if Labour fails to secure the borders ‘there will be more division in our country’.
She promised reforms to migration law, with tougher rules for people who are entitled to be in the UK.
She told the Sun on Sunday she wanted to tighten rules around claiming indefinite leave to remain, the status which grants legal migrants the ability to settle in the UK without the need to renew a visa every few years.
Ms Mahmood added: ‘We need legal migration, it is a good thing. We are a country that has always welcomed people who want to come and work here.
‘But I think in addition to living and working here there is a bigger thing to do as well which is to make sure that people are making a contribution to their wider community and wider society.’
She went on to say that ministers are looking at how to make sure indefinite leave to remain ‘is linked not just to the job you are doing’, but also ‘the wider contribution you are making to our communities’.
Sir Keir arrived at party conference with wife Victoria yesterday
The Home Secretary also promised reforms to human rights laws by Christmas to make it easier for her to deport illegal migrants.
The European Convention on Human Rights and other treaties have been ‘used in a way that was never intended’, Ms Mahmood said
Securing the border is ‘fundamental to holding the country together’, she said.
‘I know if I’m not able to get this mess sorted out, then there will be more division in our country.
‘The far right is on the rise. I think that’s a dangerous moment for the country.’
