Overview
- Keir Starmer said his government would “stay the course” in 2026, promising visible improvements in bills, communities and the NHS after a year of weak growth and rising frustration.
- The Prime Minister highlighted a planned £150 average cut to energy bills from April, freezes on rail fares and prescription charges, a National Minimum Wage boost, more police by March and additional NHS health hubs in April.
- Nigel Farage used his New Year message to claim Reform UK has led 175 opinion polls in a row with an average 10-point advantage, casting the 7 May local elections as a springboard to a future general election win.
- Farage attacked reported moves to cancel some May contests and called them “authoritarian,” while pointing to Reform’s 2025 results of roughly 676–677 ward wins, control of 10 councils and the Runcorn & Helsby by‑election.
- Starmer faces intensifying pressure as The Times reported cabinet unease about his position and Unite’s Sharon Graham said his replacement is “inevitable,” with Unison’s new leader Andrea Egan potentially shifting union influence on Labour’s NEC.