LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday told his Cabinet that 2026 must be the year when the government shows that its promise of national “renewal is becoming reality.”

Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Starmer said the year ahead would be crucial in demonstrating that Britain is “turning the corner.”

“This will be an important year as we show that renewal is becoming reality and that Britain is turning the corner,” he said.

“Getting our country back on track is hard, difficult work and we will reject the politics of easy answers and gimmicks that, frankly, got us here in the first place,” he added.

He said voters would ultimately judge the government at the next general election on whether people felt their lives were improving.

“At the next general election, we will be judged on whether we’ve delivered on things that really matter, do people feel better off, are public services improving – for which they will look to the NHS – and do people feel more safe and secure in their own community?” he said.

“They are the issues we will be judged on at the next general election, that is our focus.”

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Starmer also played down concerns about his leadership, insisting he expects to still be prime minister this time next year despite a difficult period for his government.

He rejected suggestions that forthcoming elections in Scotland, Wales and England in May would amount to a verdict on his administration, saying they should not be treated as a “referendum” on his government.

The comments came after a challenging 2025 for him, marked by slowing economic growth, weak poll ratings and renewed speculation that he could face a leadership challenge.

He emphasized the length and purpose of his mandate, saying: “I was elected in 2024 with a five-year mandate to change the country, and that's what I intend to do, to be faithful to that mandate. And I will be judged, and I know I'll be judged, when we get to the next election, on whether I've delivered on the key things that matter most to people.”