How did it come to this? Labour's journey from landslide victory to malaise

Chancellor's speech crafted as a 're-education' on government's achievements amid gloominess and sinking poll ratings

- By Pippa Crerar

When Rachel Reeves took to her feet in the Commons to deliver her spring statement this week, she was hoping to pull off what her inner circle described as a "reeducation" exercise over how Labour has used its early days in power.

That the chancellor felt she had to remind Labour MPS - and the public - that their first nine months in office have not been as bad as polls suggest is telling, reflecting concern at the top of government about gloominess over the party's direction of travel.

Many on the left are deeply anxious about how, as they see it, things have turned sour so quickly for a Labour party that swept into power with a huge majority of 174.

Since then, Labour has dropped eight points in the national polls, and Keir Starmer's personal approval ratings have plummeted 22 points, although both have been going slowly upwards since the turn of the year.

Few Labour MPs believe there is much reason for cheer, as there is little sign of the economy improving anytime soon, with growth forecasts expected to be downgraded again and Reeves announcing the biggest spending cuts since austerity.

The despair came to a head last week after Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, announced £5bn ($6.4bn) of cuts to disability benefits.

Despite No 10 arguing that it had a "moral case" for welfare reform as well as an economic one, many Labour MPs responded with dismay.

The veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott told Starmer at prime minister's questions the decision was "not about morality" but "the Treasury's wish to balance the books on the back of the most vulnerable".