Hapless Starmer vows to 'stay the course' next year

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that his government will “stay the course” in 2026 following renewed speculation about his future as Labour leader.

- KATE DEVLIN

In his new year message, the prime minister acknowledged life is still harder than it should be for many in the UK, acknowledging that the cost of living crisis makes it harder to eat out, take a holiday or make family moments special.

But he insisted that his government would defeat the “decline and division offered by others”, forecasting that the UK will “turn a corner” next year and that people will begin to feel “a sense of hope” in the coming months despite a slew of negative economic headlines in recent months.

His message comes as his own position comes increasingly under threat, with the economy faltering and Labour trailing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, was also recently forced to deny that he is plotting to return to Westminster to oust Sir Keir as Labour leader.