Starmer: I'll lead Labour into next general election

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will defy the apparent will of his own voters and lead Labour into the next general election.

A YouGov poll for The Times suggests just a third of people who backed the party last year want the prime minister to lead it into the next national contest, which is due in 2029 at the latest.

And some 23% of those voters think he should quit now.

Sir Keir's ratings have plummeted since entering Downing Street, and Labour consistently trail Reform in the polls.

His chancellor will deliver what is expected to be an unpopular budget next Wednesday, despite a U-turn on raising income tax, while May brings local elections that could further damage Sir Keir's reputation among Labour MPs.

The aftermath of the budget and next year's elections, which include Labour strongholds of London and Wales, have both been mooted as the time for a potential leadership challenge.

But speaking to the Daily Mirror, the prime minister has attempted to silence doubts about his position.

Asked if he would lead Labour into the next general election, Sir Keir said: "Yes, I will."

Sir Keir said "dealing with the cost of living" is his main priority, and "making people feel better off".

He said people wanted to "give their kids a treat, go out for a meal, have a holiday, get on and progress, and feel safe and secure", and promised the budget will have "Labour values right through it".

Rachel Reeves has been tipped to announce the two-child benefit cap will be scrapped, while the prime minister indicated the £9.90 prescription charge in England will be frozen.

"We've had a freeze in place, which is really important, and you can expect more on that in the coming days," he said.

Badenoch to warn of 'stealth tax bombshell'

Despite the income tax U-turn, other tax-raising measures are expected as the chancellor looks to plug a gap in the public finances without cutting spending.

In a speech later today, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will blame the government's failure to push through its welfare reforms earlier this year for the budget measures to come.

If the chancellor extends the freeze in income tax thresholds, as has been reported, Ms Badenoch will say it means "hiking taxes on people in work to give handouts to people on benefits".

Freezing the thresholds means as wages rise, more people get dragged into paying tax or shifted into higher bands, which Ms Badenoch will describe as a "stealth tax bombshell".

Nigel Farage will also give a speech today, setting out how a Reform UK government would seek to block EU nationals from claiming benefits and slash overseas aid spending to save £25bn a year.

Rebellion brewing over immigration reforms

A Labour backbench revolt forced the government to row back on its welfare reforms, and another rebellion may be brewing over asylum plans announced on Monday.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced sweeping changes, including rowing back on guarantees of financial support for asylum seekers.

Read more: Everything you need to know about Labour's plans

Nadia Whittome MP called Ms Mahmood's plans "dystopian" and "shameful", while Richard Burgon MP said she should change course now rather than be forced into a U-turn later.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Ms Mahmood warned her colleagues: "If we fail to deal with this crisis, we will draw more people down a path that starts with anger and ends in hatred."

Follow Ms Badenoch and Mr Farage's speeches live in the Politics Hub.

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