Starmer tells cabinet to ignore polls as YouGov puts Labour behind Reform UK and Tories - UK politics live

1 day ago7 min read

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly issued a stark directive to his cabinet: ignore the polls. This command comes in the wake of a seismic YouGov survey placing Labour not just behind the Conservatives, but shockingly in third place, trailing Nigel Farage’s insurgent Reform UK.In a political landscape increasingly defined by volatility, Starmer’s message, as relayed to ministers, was that 'governments don’t lose because polls go down,' urging instead a 'relentless focus' on the cost-of-living crisis. Yet, this internal rallying cry feels like a tactical play from a campaign playbook, a deliberate attempt to project stability while the ground shifts violently beneath his feet.The strategic battlefield was further illuminated this morning by Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch’s aggressive manoeuvre on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. In a clear bid to outflank Farage on his own turf, Badenoch positioned herself as the original net-zero sceptic within government, claiming, 'I have always been a net zero sceptic, even in government.Nigel Farage is following me. ' This wasn't just policy discussion; it was a naked attempt to reclaim populist, anti-green rhetoric from Reform, reframing the Conservative party as the authentic voice of scepticism—a high-risk strategy that acknowledges Farage’s disruptive power.When pressed by presenter Nick Robinson for a single growth policy, Badenoch’s answer was telling: more North Sea oil drilling. It’s a policy designed for soundbite politics, offering a tangible, if controversial, counter to Labour’s green investment plans and Reform’s broader anti-establishment anger.Her subsequent character assassinations—painting Starmer as a leader without a plan or agenda, and dismissing Farage as a detail-averse 'one-man band'—are classic political jujitsu, attempting to define opponents in negative terms before they can define themselves. This multi-front war, however, extends beyond domestic trench warfare.The article’s pivot to Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s comments on Gaza reveals the interconnected pressures of modern governance. Lammy’s criticism of Israel for blocking NGO aid, supported by nine other nations, underscores how international crises can instantly dominate the political agenda, testing a government’s focus and diplomatic resolve.For Starmer, navigating this complex matrix—a surging Farage, a strategically aggressive Conservative party, and relentless global flashpoints—is the ultimate test. The YouGov poll isn’t just a number; it’s a warning flare.It signals a potential realignment where traditional party loyalties are shattered, and the 'Red Wall' calculus is replaced by a new, unpredictable dynamic centred on cultural and economic discontent. Starmer’s plea for a relentless domestic focus is understandable, but in an age of permanent campaign, where every statement is weaponised and every international event domesticated, insulating a government from the poll-driven media cycle is nearly impossible.

#lead focus news

#Keir Starmer

#Kemi Badenoch

#Nigel Farage

#UK politics

#opinion polls

#Labour Party

#Conservative Party

#net zero