The Prime Minister has been in Number 10 for a few months – but has he made an impression?
What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s performance this year?
His tenure has certainly been eventful, with the initial months of his leadership shaped by a potent mix of high expectations and crises. Starmer took the reins from the beleaguered Tories in July, pledging to unify the Labour Party and get the country back on track.
However, it wasn’t long before the harsh realities of political life began to bite. The early stages of his leadership saw a raft of policy proposals aimed at addressing major issues such as escalating living costs, environmental concerns, and revamping public services.
These proposals, however, received mixed reactions from both party members and the general public. One of the most controversial decisions was the move to terminate Winter Fuel Payments for a significant number of older citizens.
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Starmer’s reputation took a further hit with the freebies row, which saw the PM criticised for accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes and glasses for himself and wife Victoria from Labour peer and donor Lord Alli, reports the Mirror.
The Prime Minister later announced he would no longer accept gifts of clothes and said he had reimbursed more than £6,000 worth of presents and hospitality.
A month on, Labour heralded the introduction of the landmark Employment Rights Bill, which many are calling the most significant boost to workers’ rights in decades. This legislation proposes a total of 28 reforms, including the elimination of zero hours contracts that have been criticized as exploitative and enhancing provisions for sick pay.
This year has also witnessed our PM sharing his vision for a society that is both fairer and more equitable, highlighted by policies aimed at renationalising the railways and widening access to crucial services. He says his plan to return the rail network to public ownership is targeted at enhancing the quality of the service, making travel fares more affordable, and ensuring the system operates in the interest of the public rather than private profit margins.
The PM has also been a vocal advocate for increasing breakfast clubs for children, a move aimed at combatting child hunger and guaranteeing no child starts their school day without a nutritious meal.
As the year progressed, Starmer found himself having to reaffirm his stance on changing the inheritance tax for farmers, reassuring that the “vast majority” would remain unaffected. He emphasized that these modifications wouldn’t come into play unless the value of the land being passed on is over £3m.
The Prime Minister also hit back at suggestions that the Government had abandoned the farming community, referring to the billions of pounds slated for investment in this sector.
Just earlier this month, Starmer shared his ‘plan for change’—a set of six milestones he’s asking the electorate to judge his government on when they cast their votes at the next election, expected in 2029.
As the turbulent year comes to a close, will 2025 be any less challenging for Labour?
The Government is currently facing intense criticism for rejecting demands to pay compensation to over 3.5m WASPI women affected by changes to the state retirement age, with campaigners labelling the decision ‘totally unjustified’. In an exclusive interview with the Mirror earlier this year, the PM acknowledged that Labour had encountered some “choppy days”, but he remained resolute in his determination to “look forward” and rectify 14 years of Tory damage.
