UK’s Starmers says he will Labour Party in the next general polls
By Sky News, November 18, 2025United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he will defy the apparent will of his own voters and lead Labour into the next general election.
A YouGov poll for The Times suggests just a third of people who backed the party last year want the prime minister to lead it into the next national contest, which is due in 2029 at the latest.
And some 23 per cent of those voters think he should quit now.
Keir’s ratings have plummeted since entering Downing Street, and Labour consistently trails Reform in the polls.
His chancellor will deliver what is expected to be an unpopular budget next Wednesday, despite a U-turn on raising income tax, while May brings local elections that could further damage Keir’s reputation among Labour MPs.
The aftermath of the budget and 2026 elections, which include Labour strongholds of London and Wales, have both been mooted as the time for a potential leadership challenge.
But speaking to the Daily Mirror, the prime minister has attempted to silence doubts about his position.
Asked if he would lead Labour into the next general election, Sir Keir said: “Yes, I will.”
Keir said “dealing with the cost of living” is his main priority, and “making people feel better off”.
Rebellion brewing over immigration reforms
He said people wanted to “give their kids a treat, go out for a meal, have a holiday, get on and progress, and feel safe and secure”, and promised the budget would have “Labour values right through it”.
Rachel Reeves has been tipped to announce that the two-child benefit cap will be scrapped, while the prime minister indicated that the Ksh1,683 prescription charge in England will be frozen.
“We’ve had a freeze in place, which is really important, and you can expect more on that in the coming days,” he said.
A Labour backbench revolt forced the government to row back on its welfare reforms, and another rebellion may be brewing over asylum plans announced on Monday, November 17, 2025.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced sweeping changes, including rolling back on guarantees of financial support for asylum seekers.
Nadia Whittome MP called Mahmood’s plans “dystopian” and “shameful”, while Richard Burgon MP said she should change course now rather than be forced into a U-turn later.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Mahmood warned her colleagues: “If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred.”