Prime Minister Keir Starmer has launched a blistering attack on Nigel Farage's Reform UK, warning his top ministers that the rival party aims to 'appease' Russian President Vladimir Putin and spread division across the country.
A Stark Choice for Voters
Addressing his first political Cabinet meeting of 2026 on Tuesday, Starmer framed the upcoming electoral battle as a fundamental choice for the nation. He told ministers the public faces a decision between 'a Labour government renewing the country or a Reform movement that feeds on grievance, decline and division'.
In a direct assault on the right-wing outfit's platform, the Prime Minister claimed: 'They want a weaker state, they want to inject bile into our communities, they want to appease Putin. This is the fight of our political lives and one that we must relish.'
Urging Nerve Amid Polling Woes
The rallying cry comes as Labour faces dire national opinion polls ahead of crucial elections in England, Scotland, and Wales this May. Many anticipate a difficult night for the party, which could spark fresh questions about Starmer's leadership.
Speaking to his Cabinet without civil servants present, the PM acknowledged the challenge but urged resolve. 'I do not underestimate the scale of the task,' he stated, adding, 'I have no doubt about this team. Governments do not lose because polls go down. They lose when they lose belief or nerve. We will do neither.'
Domestic Focus Amid Global Turbulence
Starmer insisted his government's primary focus must remain firmly on the domestic front, specifically the cost of living crisis. He warned ministers they will be judged at the next election on whether ordinary people feel financially better off.
'Yes, there's a world of uncertainty and upheaval,' he said, referencing international tensions including Donald Trump's stance on Greenland and the upcoming Ukraine allies' meeting in Paris. 'But tackling the cost of living remains and must remain our focus.'
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, who was sacked from the Cabinet in September. According to No. 10, she thanked the PM and his team for embracing her in her new role and said she relished helping to communicate the government's priorities.
