Keir Starmer’s 6-word response over his future will make your coronary heart sink | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer’s six-word response to doubts about his future as prime minister will make hearts sink. He mentioned he’ll “be PM this time next year” in his first interview of 2026 with the BBC. The Labour chief on Sunday (January 4) dismissed hypothesis over his place after a dire 2025 marked by poor polling and sluggish financial development regardless of election guarantees to rework the nation.

Asked if he would battle to stay in place or stroll away if Labour suffers on the native elections in May, Sir Keir mentioned: “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 however no one needs to return to that. It’s not in our nationwide curiosity. We know from that proof what occurs if we go down that chaotic path and I’m not going to take us again to that form of chaos. I will probably be sitting on 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 probably be judged, and I do know I’ll be judged, once we get to the subsequent election, on whether or not I’ve delivered on the important thing issues that matter most to folks.”

The interview followed his New Year messagein which he acknowledged life is still “tougher than it must be” for many Brits but promised more people will begin to feel “a way 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 StreetingHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have all been reported as harbouring management ambitions.