Keir Starmer to woo voters and MPs with new year plan to cut cost of living

"The prime minister will give a speech in the coming days focusing on how his government is bringing down living costs, highlighting recent cuts to energy bills and interest rates and the end of the two-child benefit cap. He will reinforce the message with a series of new year drinks receptions for Labour MPs at Chequers as he hopes to dispel angst about local and devolved elections in 2026, at which the party is expecting heavy losses."

"In 2026, the choices we've made will mean more people will begin to feel positive change in your bills, your communities and your health service. But even more people will feel once again a sense of hope, a belief that things can and will get better, feel that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my government will make it that reality."

Keir Starmer is pressing to repair relations with disillusioned voters and fractious Labour MPs by prioritising measures to reduce the cost of living. The government will highlight cuts to energy bills and falling interest rates and the end of the two-child benefit cap while Starmer gives a speech and hosts New Year receptions for MPs at Chequers. Morgan McSweeney labels 2026 the 'year of proof' when voters should begin to feel improvements. Starmer positions his message against Reform UK and predicts Britain will 'turn the corner', despite low personal approval ratings, expected heavy losses in 2026 devolved elections, and unrest among some MPs.

Read at www.theguardian.com