Starmer Urges Ministers To Confront 'Divisive' Reform

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has issued a rallying cry to his cabinet, urging them to directly challenge Nigel Farage's Reform UK and frame the upcoming political battle as a clear choice for the nation. This directive comes as Labour grapples with a significant dip in public approval since their 2024 general election victory. Speaking to his political cabinet, held without civil servants, Sir Keir reportedly told ministers that Reform UK thrives on "grievance, decline and division." He painted a stark picture, suggesting Reform aims for a "weaker state," injects "bile into our communities," and even seeks to "appease [Russian President Vladimir] Putin." He declared this "the fight of our political lives." The Labour leader's strategy is clear: position his party as the force for "renewing the country" against what he describes as Reform's destructive agenda. This renewed focus comes as Reform UK consistently outperforms Labour in recent polls, eyeing gains in May's local elections across England, and parliamentary contests in Scotland and Wales. Labour's own popularity, along with Sir Keir's personal ratings, have seen a notable decline since their landslide win. Despite this, the Prime Minister remained resolute, telling his team: "Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither." Beyond confronting Reform, Sir Keir stressed the need for his government to be "relentless" in tackling the cost of living crisis and delivering "change people can feel." In an earlier, official cabinet meeting, he instructed senior ministers to demonstrate "hard work, focus and determination" in easing the financial burden on households. He also expressed frustration at the slow pace of governmental change, having previously spoken about cutting down regulations to speed up policy delivery. Sir Keir highlighted what he believes are early successes, pointing to increases in the minimum wage, reductions in interest rates by the Bank of England, and support for household energy bills. Voters, he added, would ultimately judge the government at the next election on improvements to public services and the NHS. Unsurprisingly, the opposition has seized on Labour's challenges. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Labour for having "no plan, no agenda" and dismissed Sir Keir as a "weak prime minister who doesn't know if he is going to be in the job for much longer." She argued the country needed a government focused on economic security, claiming the economy was "in freefall." With crucial elections looming in May, and speculation swirling around Sir Keir's leadership should the party perform poorly, the coming months will undoubtedly test Labour's resolve and its leader's new, combative strategy ahead of the next general election. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.bbc.co.uk | Read original article