‘For public to judge’ if PM’s first 100 days a success – Downing Street

Published

5 months ago

October 11, 2024

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It is “for the public to judge” whether Labour’s first 100 days of government has gone well, Downing Street said amid Sir Keir Starmer’s sinking poll ratings.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson declined to say if his first three months in office have been a success, ahead of the milestone being hit tomorrow.

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PM’s approval rating drops

Governments traditionally seek to set a positive, dynamic tone in their first 100 days, targeting quick, visible actions that can establish a narrative about what they are doing and where they are going.

But Sir Keir has struggled to do this amid a row over donations and freebies and backlash within his own ranks about policies like the cut to the winter fuel payment, which have damaged his approval ratings.

Asked about whether the first 100 days could be viewed as a success, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “That is for the public to judge. The government is focused on delivery and the action that it takes.”

A drinks reception to celebrate the milestone was also ruled out.

Multiple polls suggest Labour’s popularity with the public has plunged since its general election landslide in July.

A survey published today by YouGov found 59% of people disapproved of its record so far, while just 18% approved.

Two policies in particular drew anger – scrapping the universal winter fuel allowance and releasing prisoners early to ease overcrowding.

Ministers blamed the measures on their inheritance from the Tories, including a £22bn “blackhole” in the public finances and a prison system on the brink of collapse.

The YouGov poll showed there was majority support for other policies, such as making a pay deal with junior doctors, lifting the ban on onshore wind farms, keeping the two-child benefit cap and suspending some arms sales to Israel.

But overall, four in ten said the country is in a worse state since the election, and nearly half of those who voted Labour said they had positive expectations but feel let down so far.

In a double whammy of bad polling, research by Ipsos found over half (52%) of Britons are unfavourable towards Sir Keir – the highest level since he became Labour leader.

Labour are also leading the Conservatives by just one point, down 11% from the summer, according to a survey by More In Common published earlier this week.

The prime minister’s spokeswoman cited reform of workplace rights and “action to deliver growth” when asked to list some of the new government’s achievements.

Speaking later to reporters, Sir Keir pointed to the first meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions, featuring devolved leaders from across the UK, as well as promises of up to £24bn investment in green projects.

He refused to be drawn on a separate paused £1bn investment into a port in London following comments made by ministers about P&O Ferries, saying a summit on Monday, when the funding was due to be announced, will still attract global financiers which will be “very good for the country”.

Sir Keir also dodged a question on the whereabouts of Sue Gray, who was not at the meeting of devolved leaders today despite being appointed as an envoy to the “nations and regions” following her resignation as his chief of staff.

The government will look to the budget on 30 October as an opportunity to set a more positive narrative about its direction, amid speculation Capital Gains Tax could be increased to fund crumbling public services.

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The two big unknowns left up in the air after Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ Ukraine summit

Published

6 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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The two big unknowns left up in the air after Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' Ukraine summit

There was one clear, united message from today’s virtual meeting of leaders – that they rejected Vladimir Putin’s “yes, but” approach to a ceasefire.

The “coalition of the willing” – the 27 leaders, plus NATO and the EU led by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron – want the Russian president to mirror Ukraine’s pledge for a 30-day pause in fighting, in order to hammer out a sustainable peace deal.

Sir Keir made that very clear, and suggested the attendees at the meeting were behind this approach.

Ukraine war latest: Putin’s ceasefire conditions ‘not good enough’

The prime minister said: “Volodymyr [Zelenskyy] has committed to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, but Mr Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place.

“Well, the world needs action, not a study, not empty words and conditions. So my message is very clear. Sooner or later, Putin will have to come to the table.”

There are two reasons for this challenge – an immediate end to fighting is a goal in itself, but many of those in today’s call, including Sir Keir, do not trust Mr Putin to uphold promises on peace and are trying to convince US President Donald Trump to be more clear-eyed about the Russian approach.

Challenging the Russian leader to follow the US request for a ceasefire and watching him refuse is designed to send a message to the White House as well as the Kremlin.

There were, however, bigger unknowns left hanging.

One of which was the clear signal from Sir Keir that he is still relying on a US security guarantee in order to bring on board a “coalition of the willing” who might be able to provide troops to Ukraine.

There are, however, many that don’t think that that US security guarantee is coming in any substantial way, based on the noises coming out of the US.

That is a big problem for the PM, as government sources tell me that the scope and the remit of any potential peacekeeping force is determined by what protection the US might be able to provide.

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The second issue that is being sidestepped by Sir Keir is what any peace keeping might be able to do in practice.

UK troops, like those of any NATO country, cannot engage directly with Russia in combat for fear of triggering a much bigger conflagration.

So if not that, then what is their purpose – a question repeatedly asked by experts like the former national security adviser Lord Ricketts.

I put exactly this to the PM, but did not get an answer. He suggested that we were a long way away from getting an an answer, even though military chiefs also appear to be meeting to “operationalise” plans on Thursday.

How can they operationalise a plan that does not, and currently cannot, have a remit?

Today Sir Keir heralded the participation of Canada, Australia and New Zealand on the call, as part of the effort.

But if the remit of the coalition of the willing isn’t clear, how can it truly be effective?

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Starmer to host virtual meeting of ‘coalition of the willing’ – and demand ‘concrete commitments’ on Ukraine

Published

6 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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Starmer to host virtual meeting of 'coalition of the willing' - and demand 'concrete commitments' on Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer will host a virtual meeting of world leaders today to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine, and he will use the call to say that now is the time for “concrete commitments”, Downing Street has said.

Around 25 leaders are expected to join the call this morning, in which they will discuss in more detail the peacekeeping mission the prime minister has called the ‘coalition of the willing’.

Sir Keir will ask allies to continue to ramp up military support to Ukraine.

He will also say countries need to increase economic pressure on Russia in the short term, and be prepared to support an eventual peace deal over the long term, should an agreement be reached.

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Attendees will also receive an update on the discussions of defence ministers and military chiefs in Paris this week, and they will all set out details of their own efforts to unlock further military support for Ukraine.

Downing Street has confirmed that some European countries, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand are expected to join the virtual meeting.

Starmer: The world needs to see action

In a statement ahead of the call, the prime minister said: “We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal.

“The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.

“If Russia finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace, if they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on Russia to secure an end to this war.”

He went on to accuse the Russian president of “trying to delay” by “saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place”.

“The world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions,” he continued.

“My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then, we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace.”

Sir Keir has said Britain could send peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire deal, but has called on Washington to offer a security ‘backstop’ to those forces.

Russia casts doubt on potential ceasefire

The meeting comes after Ukraine backed the US’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

But the Russian president has said “lots of questions” remain over that proposal, and that a ceasefire must lead to “long-term peace” which “would remove the initial reasons for the crisis”.

Moscow has reportedly also presented a “list of demands” to the US to end the war, which would include international recognition of Russia’s claim to Crimea and four Ukrainian provinces and an agreement that foreign troops not be deployed in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Mr Putin’s remarks were “very predictable” and “very manipulative”, adding that the Russian president was preparing to reject the ceasefire proposal he agreed with the US.

Politics

‘We need to get a grip’ on welfare, chancellor says – as controversial cuts widely expected

Published

6 hours ago

March 15, 2025

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'We need to get a grip' on welfare, chancellor says - as controversial cuts widely expected

The chancellor has insisted that “we do need to get a grip” on the welfare budget, saying the “current system is not working for anyone”.

Rachel Reeves said the “bill for welfare is going up by billions of pounds in the next few years”, and argued the system should “get people into work so that more people can fulfil their potential”.

Her comments come ahead of an expected announcement next week of “radical” reforms to the welfare system, with many fearing drastic cuts to support for the most vulnerable.

Politics latest: UK needs to go ‘further and faster’ to grow the economy

Asked by broadcasters on Friday about those fears, the chancellor said: “Well, we’ll set out our plans for welfare reform. But it is absolutely clear that the current system is not working for anyone.

“It is not working for people who need support, it’s not working to get people into work so that more people can fulfil their potential, and it’s not working for the taxpayer when the bill for welfare is going up by billions of pounds in the next few years.

“So we do need to get a grip. We need to spend more on national defence, we need to reform our public services, and we need to reform our broken welfare system.”

Ms Reeves’s comments come after the work and pensions secretary said the current system has locked “millions” out of work and called it “dysfunctional” as the system places a person in binary categories of either “fit for work” or “not fit for work”.

The government has promised to either reform or replace the Work Capability Assessment – which determines if a person is fit for work or not – as they say it currently drives people who want to work “to a life on benefits”.

Ministers have been priming MPs and the public for cuts to a ballooning welfare bill since the start of the year, with details expected next week ahead of an announcement in the chancellor’s spring statement on 26 March.

The expected welfare cuts

Ms Reeves is expected to announce several billion pounds of spending cuts after losing her £9.9bn headroom since the October budget, with the welfare budget a key target for cuts.

Fiscal headroom is the amount by which government can increase spending or cut taxes without breaking its own fiscal rules.

The welfare cuts are expected to include £5bn in savings by making it harder to qualify for Personal Independent Payments (PIP), which help people with the additional costs of their disability.

PIP payments next year are also expected to be frozen and the basic rate for Universal Credit paid to those searching for work, or in work, is expected to be increased while the rate for those judged as unfit for work will be cut.

The department for work and pensions said new figures show 1.8 million people are now considered too sick to look for work due to a “broken work capability assessment” so are on Universal Credit but getting no support to find work.

It said the number has almost quadrupled since the start of the pandemic when 360,000 were considered too sick to look for work.

Labour MPs concerned about cuts

A growing number of Labour MPs are publicly raising concerns and, in an unusual move, all 404 Labour MPs were asked to attend “welfare roundtables” in Downing Street with the Number 10 policy unit on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer faced down Labour MPs unhappy over the rumoured welfare cuts – especially for disabled people.

Richard Burgon pleaded with him to make the “moral” choice, telling the Commons disabled people are “frightened” as he urged the PM to introduce a wealth tax instead of “making the poor and vulnerable pay”.

Sir Keir pledged to “protect those who need protecting”, but later added there is no “bottomless pit”.

He said the Tories “left a broken welfare system, which locks millions out of work, that is indefensible in my view, economically and morally”.

Another Labour MP, John Slinger, urged the PM to reassure the Commons he will “provide compassion to those who can’t work”.

Labour MP Nadia Whittome told the BBC the government should impose a wealth tax instead of “placing that burden on disabled people who have already borne the brunt of 14 years of austerity”.

She added that she “can’t look her mum in the eye and support this”.