The Prime Minister is pinning his hopes on stability as he battles to stay in No.10.
Sir Keir Starmer says he was elected with a five-year mandate (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer’s six-word response to doubts about his future as prime minister will make hearts sink. He said he will “be PM this time next year” in his first interview of 2026 with the BBC. The Labour leader on Sunday (January 4) dismissed speculation over his position after a dire 2025 marked by poor polling and sluggish economic growth despite election promises to transform the country.
Asked if he would fight to remain in position or walk away if Labour suffers at the local elections in May, Sir Keir said: “Under the last government we saw constant chopping and changing of leadership, of teams. It caused utter chaos. It’s amongst the reasons that the Tories were booted out so effectively at the last election.
“Nobody but nobody wants to go back to that. It’s not in our national interest. We know from that evidence what happens if we go down that chaotic path and I’m not going to take us back to that kind of chaos. I will be sitting in this seat by 2027.”
Sir Keir told the BBC he was elected with a “five-year mandate” to change the country and intended to deliver on that promise.
He said: “And I will be judged, and I know I’ll be judged, when we get to the next election, on whether I’ve delivered on the key things that matter most to people.”
The interview followed his New Year message, in which he acknowledged life is still “harder than it should be” for many Brits but promised more people will begin to feel “a sense of hope” in the coming months.
His comments come after poll upon poll showed Labour haemorrhaging support, with a slight uptick towards the end of December.
YouGov’s latest voting intention poll, carried out between December 21-22, puts Labour on 20% (+2), behind Reform UK’s 25% (-3), but ahead of the Conservatives on 19% (+2), Greens on 15% (-2) and Lib Dems also on 15% (-2).
A staggering 68% of those surveyed by YouGov between December 27-29 said they disapproved of Sir Keir’s government. Just 12% said they approved. Another poll in November showed half of Labour voters want Sir Keir to quit.
Sir Keir’s future at No.10 is likely to be decided on May 7 when elections will be held for the Welsh Senedd, Scottish Parliament and local authorities in England.
Labour currently leads the Senedd, but is expected to get a drubbing at the polls in what would mark an historic defeat for Welsh Labour, which has been in power since devolution began in 1999.
While Sir Keir and his cronies are emphasising stability and talk of efforts to ease the cost of living, others are waiting in the wings to take the helm.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have all been reported as harbouring leadership ambitions.
