Senior Labour figures have issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, demanding an immediate halt to the series of "unforced errors" that have plagued his government's early months in power.
Multiple sources within the party's upper echelons have expressed growing frustration with what they describe as "entirely avoidable" mistakes that are threatening to derail Labour's agenda and damage its hard-won credibility with voters.
Growing Unease Among Party Elite
According to insiders, the concern extends beyond backbench MPs to include members of the government itself. There is a palpable sense that the administration is creating unnecessary problems through poor communication, procedural slips, and messaging failures.
One shadow minister admitted: "We're making things harder for ourselves than they need to be. These aren't issues of policy disagreement but basic execution errors that could have been avoided with better preparation and coordination."
The Toll of Early Missteps
The government's stumble over the two-child benefit cap and confusion surrounding its new childcare policy have been particularly damaging. Critics argue these episodes suggest a administration still operating in campaign mode rather than embracing the discipline of governance.
Another Labour figure noted: "We fought an election campaign that was notably disciplined and focused. That same level of professionalism needs to be applied to governing, and right now, there's a worrying gap."
A Call for Course Correction
The internal criticism comes with a constructive purpose: to urge Number 10 to tighten its operation before more significant damage is done. Key allies want better coordination between departments, clearer communication strategies, and more thorough policy testing before announcements.
Despite the frustrations, there remains confidence that Starmer and his team have the capability to address these issues. The concern is that without swift action, the government risks losing the momentum and public goodwill that propelled it to power.
As one senior MP put it: "The public gave us a mandate to deliver change, not to become distracted by self-inflicted wounds. It's time to get back to the competent, professional politics that won us the election."
