Sir Keir Starmer has warned of “chaos” if he is forced out as Prime Minister, claiming that the fight against Reform and the Greens constitutes a “battle for the soul of our nation.” In a speech on Monday following disastrous local election results, Starmer attempted to shore up support amid growing criticism from within his party.
The Prime Minister said other parties want “more grievance politics, more division, more pointing at Britain’s problems.” He added: “This is nothing less than a battle for the soul of our nation, and I want to be crystal clear about how we will win it, because we cannot win as a weaker version of Reform or the Greens.”
Starmer continued: “We are not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents. This hurts not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don’t get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.”
The under-fire Labour leader admitted to having “made mistakes” and claimed to have “spent too much time talking about what I’m doing for working people and not enough time talking about why.” He laid out three areas where he hoped to show the “urgency” of his government.
Nationalisation of British Steel
Starmer announced legislation to nationalise British Steel, set to be brought forward in the King’s Speech on Wednesday. He framed the move as “urgent government on the side of working people” that would make “Britain stronger with the hope of industrial renewal.”
Youth Unemployment and Apprenticeships
Starmer also pledged to focus on rising youth unemployment, promising more funding for apprenticeships to get young people into work. He took a shot at the damage caused by Brexit, which he said “snatched away” young people’s “ability to work, to study and to live easily in Europe.”
Closer Ties with the EU
The Prime Minister hinted at closer ties with the European Union: “Standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values and our enemies – that is the right choice for Britain, that is the Labour choice.”
Bond markets were jittery throughout the speech, with the yield on 10-year gilts spiking seven basis points as rivals circled Starmer. Around 34 Labour MPs have called for the Prime Minister to resign, while senior figures in the party are calling for a major change in direction. Former deputy leader Angela Rayner said the “government needs, at pace, to put measures in place that make people’s lives tangibly better.” She also branded the blocking of Andy Burnham from returning to Parliament a mistake.
This is a breaking news story – more to follow.
