'A better story' Starmer and McSweeney to reset Labour goals after bruising start

During a tetchy exchange at prime minister's questions this week, Keir Starmer was challenged by Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, over a petition signed by more than 2.8 million people calling for him to resign.

- Pippa Crerar

"She talks about a petition - we had a massive petition on 4 July in this country," he roared in response. But most in Downing Street will acknowledge that, less than five months since Labour's election landslide, they've had a bumpier start than they had hoped.

Sources say that in recent weeks the mood inside the building has, nevertheless, lifted. There has been, since the departure of Sue Gray as chief of staff and her replacement by Morgan McSweeney, significantly less friction and a greater sense of direction.

Yet externally, recent rows over the budget with groups including employers and farmers, as well as constant online attacks by Elon Musk, have threatened to overshadow the government's plans on an almost daily basis.

Starmer's team has spent much of its time since last month's budget on the defensive. It has made some Labour MPs jittery. "We spent years courting pensioners, farmers and small businesses - yet seem to have spent the last few months turning them against us," said one.

Others believe the backlash is the inevitable consequence of a budget in which taxes were put up by £40bn. "Either we did nothing, we fudged it, or we made tough decisions," said one aide. "We didn't see any alternative to doing the difficult stuff now."

But beyond the fire-fighting is a more profound concern: that the public still does not really understand what the new government wants to achieve before the next election. "We need to tell a better story," is a constant refrain from those around No 10.