How long will Starmer’s new MPs stay loyal?

It’s show time for Keir Starmer as MPs return to parliament today following the summer recess. The Prime Minister and his team have faced a slew of negative headlines in recent weeks over the planned cut to the winter fuel allowance, an ongoing cronyism row and whether the new government is spooking business with its pessimism and speculation over the ‘painful’ budget in October. Recent polls suggest Labour is losing support. Starmer’s net approval ratings, according to Opinium, are now -13 per cent. It was +19 per cent when he entered 10 Downing Street in July.

Ministers hope to show momentum this week with the return of MPs to the Commons. Starmer wants to demonstrate progress and land his ‘delivery’ message by pushing through Labour’s legislative programme. This week that will be formed of the Public Ownership Rail bill, which aims to return trains from the private sector to the hands of the state and the Budget Responsibility Bill – aka the ‘We are not Liz Truss bill’ – which would force any future government to consult the Office for Budget Responsibility to assess any major tax or spend plans.