'The year of proof': Starmer to woo MPs with push to cut cost of living

PM attempts to dispel backbench angst over looming May elections

- Kiran Stacey

Keir Starmer will try to rescue his relationship with disillusioned voters and his own fractious MPs in a new year push to reduce the cost of living.

The prime minister is set to give a speech in the coming days focusing on how his government is bringing down living costs, highlighting recent cuts to energy bills and interest rates, as well as the end of the two-child benefit cap.

He will reinforce the message with a series of new year’s drinks receptions at Chequers for his own MPs as he looks to dispel angst about this year’s set of local and devolved elections, at which Labour is expecting heavy losses.

The prime minister insisted in his new year’s message that voters would begin to see their lives improving in 2026, during what his chief adviser, Morgan McSweeney, has called “the year of proof”.

Starmer said: “In 2026, the choices we've made will mean more people will begin to feel positive change in your bills, your communities and your health service.

“But even more people will feel once again a sense of hope, a belief that things can and will get better, feel that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my government will make it that reality.”

In a barb aimed at Reform UK, which looks on course to defeat Labour in Scottish and Welsh elections in May, he added: “We're getting Britain back on track. By staying the course, we will defeat the decline and division offered by others.”