Starmer’s Policy U-Turns won’t win back lost voters doubts as Leadership Pressure Mounts

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Starmer’s Policy U-Turns Spark Doubts as Leadership Pressure Mounts

 

Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing scrutiny as political analysts and polling experts warn that a series of high-profile policy reversals may do little to rescue his slipping approval ratings—or to reassure a restless Labour Party. The Prime Minister’s recent U-turn on cuts to the winter fuel payment, and potential reconsideration of the two-child benefit cap, have sparked concerns that rather than projecting strength, such moves could make him appear “insecure” and vulnerable to a leadership challenge.

 

Sir John Curtice, one of the UK’s most respected polling experts, cautioned that these kinds of climbdowns, even if popular, often linger in the public’s memory. “These things stick in the memory – so you can change the policy now and you can probably reduce the damage, but it’s difficult to erase some people’s memory,” he told The Independent. The winter fuel payment reversal—announced last week—saw Starmer tell the Commons he would reconsider the threshold at which the benefit is received, backtracking on a controversial decision made just last year to means-test the payment.

 

Curtice's assessment underscores a broader unease within Labour ranks. Ten months after Labour’s historic general election win, Sir Keir now finds himself battling declining voter enthusiasm, rebellion from MPs over welfare reforms, and the rise of Reform UK. More than 150 Labour MPs are reportedly preparing to vote against government plans to uphold the two-child benefit cap. The policy, which prevents families from claiming benefits for more than two children, has been blamed for pushing up to 100 children a day into poverty.

 

Now, with Starmer reportedly contemplating scrapping the cap entirely—saying it may be “the right thing to do”—he risks further backlash. Not least because the policy, as Sir John notes, remains “relatively popular among voters.” “It’s not what you would choose to do if you were really focused on why you were behind in the opinion polls,” he added. Starmer previously took a hard line on the issue, stripping seven MPs of the Labour whip last year after they defied the party to back an SNP motion to end the cap. Reversing course now would not only mark a major policy shift but could also expose him to accusations of inconsistency.

 

Lord Hayward, a Conservative peer and polling expert, echoed the warning. “The big risk is that any government that reverses a headline policy – which clearly they have done on winter fuel allowance – immediately does two things,” he said. “One, it leaves itself open for more bids for the reversals of policy, and secondly, it is a display of insecurity which automatically gives rise to talk about the replacement of a leader.” He added that while “you can afford to reverse the odd policy, you can’t afford to reverse lots of them. So he has to be clear about where he goes from here.”

 

The growing threat from Reform UK only adds to the pressure. Nigel Farage is reportedly preparing to promise the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap and the full reinstatement of the winter fuel payment, directly outflanking Labour on welfare. After Reform’s surprising electoral success—including winning 677 council seats and flipping the Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby seat—Labour’s vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly exposed. Starmer’s party lost two-thirds of the council seats it gained in 2021 and now trails Reform in key polling indicators.

 

When asked by Laura Kuenssberg whether the cap would be officially scrapped, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner declined to confirm. “I’m not going to speculate on what our government is going to do,” she said. Yet Sir John Curtice believes the indecision reflects deeper anxieties within Labour. “The authority of prime ministers rests very heavily on their being thought to be a winner for their party,” he noted. “The problem that Starmer now has is that doubts have crept into [Labour MPs’] minds as to whether or not...he is going to be a winner in 2029.”

 

As Starmer navigates a volatile political landscape, marked by rebellion within and competitive threats without, the question remains: can policy reversals alone steady his leadership—or will they only deepen the sense of instability surrounding it?

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Independent  2025-05-27

 

 

[The Cyclist]

We are fast approaching the point where he is diagnosed with an imaginary illness, and he will have to step down with immediate effect.

 

Of course it won't be anything to do with the 2 male Escorts / Models and their Pimp, who are currently under arrest for arson.

 

Arson is usually personal, which makes the charges under terrorism seem rather odd.

 

But does allow D Notices to be thrown about like confetti, and the relative silence is rather telling.

[JonnyF]

Starmer just showing everyone what a weak man and a poor leader he is.

 

He stands for nothing. No principles. No convictions. Just a desire for power. 

[DaveBart]

Starmer is a traitor to our country,he wants to be loved by the EU

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Just a desire for power. 

........ and Romanian rent boys ...........

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

........ and Romanian rent boys ...........

 

Now Now - they were "models" 😆.

[JAG]

6 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

We are fast approaching the point where he is diagnosed with an imaginary illness, and he will have to step down with immediate effect.

 

Of course it won't be anything to do with the 2 male Escorts / Models and their Pimp, who are currently under arrest for arson.

 

Arson is usually personal, which makes the charges under terrorism seem rather odd.

 

But does allow D Notices to be thrown about like confetti, and the relative silence is rather telling.

What is the saying: "no smoke without fire"?

[The Cyclist]

19 minutes ago, JAG said:

What is the saying: "no smoke without fire"?

 

That's the one, although in this case there was fire, 3 fires to be exact.

 

Arson attacks are generally personal, so......

[RayC]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

What is the saying: "no smoke without fire"?

 

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That's the one, although in this case there was fire, 3 fires to be exact.

 

Arson attacks are generally personal, so......

 

Or alternatively,

 

All crows are black

Crows are birds

Therefore all birds are black

[Andycoops]

Complete shambles from the start, having had 14 years to get it right they are shooting themselves in both feet at the same time.

[superal]

Starmer , the most unpopular UK PM ever . His days are numbered . why is he planning to review the WFP & 2 child only benefits ? because his own back benchers are about to oppose and vote against the changes . So rather than face a defeat/revolt he will do a "U" turn " .  

Problem is who will replace him , Angela Rayner ?  OMG . Frying pan to the fire . Then comes Rachel Reeves the pensioner killer . Chancellor of the Exchequer without appropriate qualifications . 

There needs to be a change of government asap . A new government that puts indigenous Brits first . Halts the invasion of illegal channel boats and deport the illegals already in the UK . Starmer will build 1.5 million new homes to house them . Starmer and his cronies should be tried for treason . Great Britain should just be called Britain . Free speech , careful , as you run the risk of prison . Tommy Robinson released but I reckon he will be back inside within a month or 2 for minor offences .

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, superal said:

Starmer , the most unpopular UK PM ever . His days are numbered . why is he planning to review the WFP & 2 child only benefits ? because his own back benchers are about to oppose and vote against the changes . So rather than face a defeat/revolt he will do a "U" turn " .  

Problem is who will replace him , Angela Rayner ?  OMG . Frying pan to the fire . Then comes Rachel Reeves the pensioner killer . Chancellor of the Exchequer without appropriate qualifications . 

There needs to be a change of government asap . A new government that puts indigenous Brits first . Halts the invasion of illegal channel boats and deport the illegals already in the UK . Starmer will build 1.5 million new homes to house them . Starmer and his cronies should be tried for treason . Great Britain should just be called Britain . Free speech , careful , as you run the risk of prison . Tommy Robinson released but I reckon he will be back inside within a month or 2 for minor offences .

 

I'm actually starting to think Rayner would be an improvement.

 

Of course she is totally useless, but that's the point. Starmer is dangerous, whereas Rayner would be too busy raving in Ibiza to do any real damage to the country. 

 

[The Cyclist]

When the BBC and the Guardian turn on Starmer....

 

 

 

You just know it's taxi time.

 

[The Cyclist]

Add in a pummeling in a Council By - Election

 

 

 

The problem is Labour in General and Starmer in,particular.

[James105]

10 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

When the BBC and the Guardian turn on Starmer....

 

 

 

You just know it's taxi time.

 

 

Yes he is indeed toast so won't be long before the next clown is promoted to be the head of the big top.  My favourite response from starmer though is this one:  'I know what it's like to work in a factory for 12 hours a day. Because my dad did it.'

 

What an absolute clown.  I've no idea what it was like for my dad during his working day as he did it and not me!   

[RayC]

4 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

When the BBC and the Guardian turn on Starmer....

 

You just know it's taxi time.

 

 

4 hours ago, James105 said:

 

Yes he is indeed toast so won't be long before the next clown is promoted to be the head of the big top.

 

Genuine question: When do you think that Starmer will be gone by?

[The Cyclist]

1 hour ago, RayC said:

 

 

Genuine question: When do you think that Starmer will be gone by?

 

That will depend on when the Male Models / Escorts start spilling their guts.

 

Failing that, I doubt he will last beyond the Autumn budget.

[RayC]

2 hours ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That will depend on when the Male Models / Escorts start spilling their guts.

 

Failing that, I doubt he will last beyond the Autumn budget.

 

The 'male models' incident might be a Profumo type episode, it might be a sting operation or it might be nothing. Time will time. If the former, Starmer will be gone quickly.

 

Assuming that 'there is nothing to see', I very much doubt that Starmer will be gone within the next 18 months. No one in the cabinet is going to openly challenge his leadership this year unless there is some other scandal. There may be grumbles on the backbenches, but there is not open rebellion and, more importantly, there is no one there who could mount a credible leadership challenge.

[The Cyclist]

16 minutes ago, RayC said:

The 'male models' incident might be a Profumo type episode, it might be a sting operation or it might be nothing. Time will time. If the former, Starmer will be gone quickly.

 

You missed out that they are also  Male Escorts.

 

Nothing to see here. Move along now.

 

How does a 21 & 25 year old know about a property that Starmer allegedly sold 20 years ago ?
 

Arson / attempted arson is a personal attack, not a sting operation.

 

19 minutes ago, RayC said:

No one in the cabinet is going to openly challenge his leadership this year unless there is some other scandal.

 

The cabinet ? You appear to be pretty naive, his downfall will not come from the cabinet.

 

There are about 42 by-election across June and July, suffer defeats like they did, as posted above and he will be gone.

[RayC]

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

You missed out that they are also  Male Escorts.

 

Nothing to see here. Move along now.

 

How does a 21 & 25 year old know about a property that Starmer allegedly sold 20 years ago ?
 

Arson / attempted arson is a personal attack, not a sting operation.

 

Each and every arson attack is personal? You know that for a fact?

 

If it was a sting operation organised by a foreign power, I'd imagine that they would have sufficient resources to do background research on Starmer, wouldn't you?

 

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The cabinet ? You appear to be pretty naive, his downfall will not come from the cabinet.

 

There are about 42 by-election across June and July, suffer defeats like they did, as posted above and he will be gone.

 

There were 1,641 by-elections in May. The results were not good for Labour but there was no pressure on Starmer to resign. However, you think that the results of 42 by-election results in the next 2 months will be enough to force Starmer from office? 

 

And you call me naive😂