Overview
- Keir Starmer told the Mirror he will stay on as Labour leader, saying his priority is easing the cost of living and that the upcoming Budget will reflect Labour values.
- A YouGov poll reported by multiple outlets shows only about a third of Labour voters want him to lead the party into the next election, with 23% saying he should quit now and 22% wanting him to step down before then, as polls also show Labour trailing Reform UK.
- The leadership storm followed anonymous briefings linked to Downing Street that said he would fight any challenge and named Health Secretary Wes Streeting; Starmer denies authorising such briefings, and the Mirror reports he apologised to Streeting.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing a politically fraught Budget next week to address a sizeable fiscal gap reported at around £30bn, with coverage noting a retreat from a floated income tax rise and ongoing debate over threshold freezes described by critics as a stealth tax.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled sweeping asylum changes, including cutting back guarantees of financial support for claimants, drawing protests from Labour backbenchers and intensifying internal tensions.