Kokani.me Kokani.me
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached 100 days in office on Saturday, but his time in power has been marred by feuds, fiscal difficulties, and dwindling public support.
Starmer, whose centre-left Labour Party won a landslide election on July 4, returned to power after 14 years of Conservative rule.
However, recent polls show a sharp decline in his personal approval ratings, and Labour’s popularity is only marginally higher than the defeated Conservative Party, which voters rejected after years of scandal and infighting.
“You couldn’t really have imagined a worse start,” said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London. “First impressions count, and it’s going to be difficult to turn those around.”
Starmer’s campaign focused on ending the turmoil under Conservative leadership, revitalizing the sluggish economy, and fixing public services like the National Health Service (NHS). Despite these promises, his government has faced a series of crises, including far-right-fueled anti-immigrant violence and a sluggish economy.
While Starmer’s government has claimed a strong start by ending long-standing strikes and implementing new legislation, it has struggled to have a significant impact on the global stage, particularly in addressing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Starmer’s most pressing challenge is Britain’s struggling economy, hampered by rising public debt and slow growth. One of the government’s early decisions to strip millions of retirees of winter heating payments led to public backlash, compounded by reports of Starmer accepting expensive gifts from donors, which he later repaid.
With focus now shifting to Treasury chief Rachel Reeves’ upcoming budget on Oct. 30, the government faces the daunting task of balancing economic recovery with tough financial decisions, while attempting to rebuild trust and present a clear vision for the future.
Starmer, however, remains resolute, acknowledging the difficulties of governing but insisting that he will not be “knocked off course.” — Agencies
