Some in Labour want Starmer out. He tells me he'll survive - and the economy will improve

"There is never truly time off for prime ministers. In the hour before we sat down to speak, Sir Keir had been on the phone to Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, and trying to work out what on earth had happened in Venezuela where his big political chum, US President Donald Trump, had just attacked and captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro. By the time our interview, which was much longer than normal, had finished, Maduro had been charged in New York."

"The grisly truth for the prime minister is that many of his colleagues believe he's not very good at his job. Some of them would rather gamble and get him out this year. But Sir Keir was having none of it when we spoke on Saturday morning. On several occasions he told me he'd be "judged at the general election", insisting no one would take his five-year mandate from him."

Keir Starmer predicted he will remain in office through 2027 and insisted he will be judged at the next general election, refusing internal pressure to resign. He handled urgent international matters, including a call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and attempts to understand Venezuela's upheaval after US President Donald Trump reportedly attacked and captured Nicolas Maduro, who was later charged in New York. A short break at Chequers appeared to improve his mood after a poor 2025. Many colleagues doubt his competence and some would prefer a leadership change, while he emphasized that upcoming May elections focus on councils and devolved governments.

Read at www.bbc.com