Labour Party Chair Anna Turley has emphatically declared that Sir Keir Starmer will "absolutely" still be the Prime Minister next Christmas, despite the party languishing in a dismal third place in recent opinion polls.
Defending a Difficult First Year
Speaking to Sky News's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on 21 December 2025, Turley acknowledged the ongoing hardship faced by many Britons but struck an optimistic note about the government's trajectory. She argued that the administration had spent its first year in office taking "a lot of difficult decisions" necessary to stabilise the economy and the country after the "chaos" it inherited.
"We live in the real world. We know things are still hard," Turley stated. "But I'm conscious with every single day that goes by next year, people will really start to see and feel more money in their pockets, better public services... and that change takes time."
The Stark Reality of the Polls
This show of confidence comes against a stark political backdrop. Turley's interview followed the revelation of polling data showing Labour's profound struggles. On average across the last ten polls, Labour sits in third place with just 18.2% support. This places them behind both Reform UK, leading on 29.4%, and the Conservative Party on 18.9%.
When pressed by Phillips on whether the public had failed to notice their 'luck' under the new government, Turley conceded that people were "impatient for change," a central plank of Labour's election manifesto. She pointed to legislative processes as a reason for the delay in tangible results, citing the recent passage of the Employment Rights Bill after protracted debate in the House of Lords.
Leadership Speculation and Future Challenges
Turley's unwavering backing of the Prime Minister is delivered amidst continued unease on Labour benches and open speculation about potential leadership challenges should the party perform poorly in the upcoming May local elections.
Several senior figures are reportedly positioning themselves. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has notably refused to rule out a future leadership bid, telling The Observer he was "diplomatically ducking the question." Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham repeatedly declines to rule out a return to Westminster to challenge Starmer, and former deputy leader Angela Rayner is also thought to be a potential contender.
Confronted directly on whether Starmer would lead the party and the country by next Christmas, Turley was unequivocal: "Of course. Absolutely... He has got a very clear vision for making sure that people can really deal with the cost of living, that public services will get back on their feet."
In a contrasting interview on the same programme, Conservative Party deputy chair Matt Vickers was bullish about his party's prospects, declaring, "We're going to go out there and smash these next elections." This sets the stage for a highly contentious political year ahead, with Starmer's leadership and his government's record under intense scrutiny.
