PM Starmer will promise 'sweeping changes' in King's Speech this week as he battles to stay in No.10
"People need hope," he will say
Sir Keir Starmer will today promise sweeping changes to address the "big challenges" confronting the UK as he battles to save his job.
The Prime Minister insists his plan will demonstrate "hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on" after Labour's disastrous election results in England, Scotland and Wales put his position in peril.
The speech today will mark the start of a crunch week for his premiership.
Labour MPs will be encouraged to endorse a leadership challenge if he fails to convince them he can pull the party out of a slump which has seen votes and seats flow to Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Green Party.
In Sheffield, the party lost seven seats while Greens gained six and Reform took 12.
On Wednesday (May 13), the King's Speech will set out his Government's priorities for new laws in Parliament.
The Prime Minister will say: "To meet the challenges that our country faces, incremental change won't cut it.
"On growth, defence, Europe , energy - we need a bigger response than we anticipated in 2024 because these are not ordinary times.
"Strength through fairness. It's a core Labour argument. And you will see those values writ large in the King's Speech. And you will see hope, urgency and exactly whose side we are on."
Sir Keir has acknowledged the early part of his premiership was too gloomy, with ministers setting out the parlous state of the economy and public services they inherited without sufficiently highlighting plans to improve people's lives.
"People need hope," he will say. "We will face up to the big challenges and we will make the big arguments."
Sir Keir will highlight his efforts to build new ties with Brussels , saying: "This Labour Government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship and by putting Britain at the heart of Europe . So that we are stronger on the economy, on trade, on defence, you name it.
"Because standing shoulder to shoulder with the countries that most share our interests, our values and our enemies - that is the right choice for Britain , that is the Labour choice."
Meanwhile, former minister Catherine West will decide whether to seek the 81 nominations from MPs for a leadership challenge if she is still "dissatisfied" after Sir Keir's speech.
She has made clear her campaign is an attempt to force the Cabinet to get behind a candidate to move against Sir Keir rather than a credible challenge to win the keys to No 10 herself.
But MPs on Labour's left have warned against her plan, arguing it could result in a Cabinet "stitch-up" rather than allowing members to vote on the next leader.
There are also suspicions from the left that the move could trigger an early contest which could favour Health Secretary Wes Streeting because Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is still not an MP.
Angela Rayner and Mr Burnham are seen as potential leadership contenders.
Ms Rayner, the former deputy Labour leader, called for a shift to the left in a lengthy statement which set out her vision for the party.
"What we are doing isn't working, and it needs to change. This may be our last chance," she said.