'The idea they can keep carrying on as they have been is suicidal'

Sir Keir Starmer is facing Labour turmoil and global volatility as he marks a year in Number 10 today. Nina Lloyd and Christopher McKeon, of the Press Association, report

- Nina Lloyd and Christopher McKeon, of the Press Association, report

SIR Keir Starmer is facing Labour dissent, economic uncertainty and spiralling conflict abroad as he marks a year in Number 10.

The Prime Minister led his party back into power with more than 400 MPs on July 4 last year - clinching a majority just short of Sir Tony Blair's landslide in 1997.

But with a daunting in-tray of problems, including a stuttering economy, creaking public services and global volatility, his political honeymoon period was short-lived.

His personal popularity is now the lowest of any British premier after their first 12 months in office, said political scientist and polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice.

"There were pretty clear potential weaknesses before they even started, and most of those weaknesses have basically just been exposed over the course of the last 12 months," he said.

Mr Curtice said part of the problem lay in what he described as a failure of narrative in setting out the UK Government's vision for change to the public.

"They're portraying themselves as a repair gang rather than the builders of a new Jerusalem. Pessimism doesn't necessarily go down very well," he said.

"The thing with Starmer is, he's a brilliant prosecution lawyer... But prosecution lawyers present cases that have been [put together] by someone else. The problem is that, as a political leader, you've got to prosecute your own case.

"Maybe he needs new personnel? Either he's got to learn to do it himself or get someone in to do it for him."

That verdict was echoed by some dissenting voices within Labour ranks, where there is lingering discontent among rebels over the government's Welfare Bill despite Number 10 offering major concessions on the legislation.

The Government saw off the threat of a major Commons defeat over the legislation on Tuesday after shelving plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip).