Keir Starmer will ‘absolutely’ be Prime Minister by Christmas next year, Labour’s chair has promised, as she savaged Reform UK offering ‘nothing’ to help with the cost of living

Keir Starmer will “absolutely” be Prime Minister by Christmas next year, Labour’s chair has promised, as she savaged Reform UK offering “nothing” to help with the cost of living.

‌

Anna Turley struck an upbeat note as she vowed British families will feel the change they voted for in the new year. She said Labour will go after “every single vote” in the local elections in May, a deadline many Labour MPs have set for Mr Starmer to turn the party’s woes around.

‌

The Prime Minister finds himself in a difficult position as the year draws to a close, with unpopularity in opinion polls and rumours of leadership challenges in the Labour ranks.

‌

Asked if the PM would still be in post next Christmas, Ms Turley told Sky News: “Of course, absolutely. As I said, people really start to see and feel the change in their pockets. Keir has got a very clear vision for making sure that people can really deal with the cost of living, that public services will get back on their feet.

“And he’s building a Britain that is one that is tolerant, that is open, that is confident in itself, and that is really about renewal and investment in young people, as opposed to the division and the decline of the opposition.”

‌

It comes as an exclusive Mirror poll today put Labour on 20% and the Tories on 19%, behind Reform on 30%.

Labour has faced accusations it is running scared from next year’s local elections after ministers last week announced that some 63 council areas could opt to postpone elections until 2027, due to a shake-up in local government. It comes after some were already delayed for a year.

Pressed on the rise of Reform, Ms Turley said: “We’re just focused on going for every single vote at the moment. Reform’s offer to the country is really clear in my view. They offer decline, they offer division, they offer intolerance. They’ve got nothing to help people with the cost of living.

‌

“They’ve got no plan for the NHS other than to privatise it and bring an insurance model. They oppose all of our workers rights that are supporting people on maternity and paternity pay. They would offer tax cuts to the richest.

“There’s nothing about Reform that would support working people. So we’re absolutely determined. Day by day, we will set out our vision for the country, will deliver for people in their pockets, in their public services and in their local communities, and we’ll start to see the difference as we come into the new year, and we’ll fight for every single vote.”

She added that the Cabinet is “ruthlessly focused” on delivering on their day-to-day basis, whether that’s the NHS, education, defence or housing.

‌

Nigel Farage has always insisted health care would be free at the point of delivery if Reform UK gained power but he has failed to deny his interest in people paying for health insurance if they can afford it.

In an interview with The Observer newspaper this weekend, Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted the Prime Minister has his “absolute support”. He was forced to deny in November that he planned to unseat Mr Starmer, following a savage briefing war at the heart of Government.

Mr Streeting also shrugged off suggestions of a joint leadership ticket with Angela Rayner, and told the newspaper: “The closer I see that job and the pressure on Keir and the demands of that job, the more I wonder why anyone would want it.”