Keir Starmer has insisted he will lead Labour into the next general election amid a plethora of claims he is soon to be ousted.
The Prime Minister said he would ‘absolutely’ remain in the driving seat when the country next chooses a government, most likely in 2029.
It comes as he faces questions over his position amid dire poll ratings, leadership jostling among Labour factions and questions about his judgement linked to the Peter Mandelson scandal.
Defence Secretary John Healey became the latest name to be linked with taking over, after allies of Energy Secretary Ed Miliband want him to do a ‘unite the left’ ticket with Green leader Zack Polanski.
If he is to cling on for another three years it is likely to be time spent unwinding Brexit. The PM used a speech yesterday to reveal Britain will seek ‘deeper economic integration’ with the EU and ‘move closer to the single market’, 10 years after the seismic vote to leave.
He insisted the EU-UK ‘status quo is not fit for purpose’ as he appeared at the Munich Security Conference alongside Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
He has already backed closer defence ties with the 27-nation block in the face of the threat from Russia.
And last night it was claimed the UK will ramp up its net zero targets and hand over control of energy policy.
A memorandum, published by the Cabinet Office earlier this month, says that there needs to be a ‘dynamic alignment’ of British law with EU rules on ‘the promotion of renewable energy’.
The Prime Minister said he would ‘absolutely’ remain in the driving seat when the country next chooses a government, most likely in 2029.
He insisted the EU-UK ‘status quo is not fit for purpose’ as he appeared at the Munich Security Conference alongside Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
Sir Keir said: ‘So we must look at where we could move closer to the single market in other sectors as well, where that would work for both sides.
‘The prize here is greater security, stronger growth for the United Kingdom and the EU, which will fuel increased defence spending, and the chance to place the UK at the centre of a wave of European industrial renewal.’
He added: ‘I understand the politics very well. It will mean trade-offs.
‘But the status quo is not fit for purpose, and to me there’s no question where the national interest lies, and I will always fight for what’s best for my country.’
Speaking to the Sun on Sunday at the conference, Sir Keir came out fighting against suggestions he should resign, and reports of plots within Labour to oust him.
He told the newspaper: ‘I won the leadership of the Labour Party when people said I wouldn’t. I changed the Labour Party when people said I couldn’t. I won an election when people said we wouldn’t.
‘And now I intend to change the country – whatever other people say.’
Sir Keir then insisted he would ‘absolutely’ lead the Labour Party into the next election.
It came as hard Left MPs on his backbenches demanded an end to a “narrow, factional agenda” within the Labour Party, from a group of MPs and union leaders.
A letter signed by 25 MPs, the leaders of several Labour-affiliated trade unions, and campaign groupings within the party, claimed the approach from the top was “increasingly unpopular with the public”.
A number of serial Labour rebel MPs are among the signatories, including Clive Lewis and Brian Leishman, as well as figures such as John McDonnell, who was shadow Chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn.
They suggested the approach by the party’s leadership could undermine the ability to win elections.
Sir Keir also announced Britain will seek ‘deeper economic integration’ with the European Union and to ‘move closer to the single market’ in more sectors during his speech.
He insisted the EU-UK ‘status quo is not fit for purpose’, but he acknowledged there would be ‘trade-offs’ as a result of the move.
Amid ongoing domestic political strife, Sir Keir also claimed he ‘ended the week much stronger than I started it’.
Elsewhere, he spoke of ‘closer economic alignment’ between the EU and UK as he shared the stage with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.