Labour frontbencher Matthew Pennycook has slapped down speculation over Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership declaring the Prime Minister as “absolutely” the man to lead the party into the next election.
Speaking at Labour’s annual conference, Mr Pennycook admitted voters are “frustrated” after 14 years of Tory rule but insisted Sir Keir Starmer had already begun to “turn things around” in housing and other key areas.
He dismissed talk of rivals circling, saying: “Every time people say there are rumblings, the Prime Minister turns it around. He led us to a landslide victory in the general election, and he’ll do it again.”
Mr Pennycook said the country faced a “defining moment” between “unity or division” and accused Reform UK of peddling “immoral” policies that would “rip families apart” and “cause misery”.
Mr Pennycook said the country faced a 'defining moment' between 'unity or division'
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GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope said: "Why isn't it working? He's the wrong guy, the wrong leader, right? You need someone else, Wes Streeting might be better."
Mr Pennycook shot back: "I'm absolutely confident the Prime Minister will lead us into the next election. I've heard this conference after conference over recent years.
"There's always rumblings every time it's happened. The Prime Minister's turned things around, led us, as he did, to a landslide victory in the general election.
"I am absolutely confident that he'll turn it around and he'll lead us into the next election, because we do have this defining moment.
"Do we want unity or division? Do we want a politics based on a grievance culture, exploiting very real concerns of working people, but without the hard headed graft needed to turn that situation around. That's what we're focusing on."
Christopher also grilled the Labour MP on Digital ID cards, which have faced significant backlash this weekend.
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The minister defended the scheme as a way to transform access to public services while cracking down on illegal working.
He said: "They'll make things a lot easier in many respects, but they will help with illegal working in the black economy.
"Now, it won't be a silver bullet. It's not going to solve everything. Quite rightly, people would challenge us on the basis of the fact that there's working in the black economy already.
"There's rules in place and people try and circumvent them. But by introducing a more comprehensive system that allows for a better intelligence led approach, it will help with enforcement.
The MP claimed he is 'absolutely confident' that Keir Starmer will lead Labour into the next election
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"We've already ramped up enforcement over legal working. It will help us do that. That's why we're committed to introducing it by the end of this parliament."
On Friday the Government revealed plans for mandatory digital identification by 2029. The scheme would initially require citizens to use it as proof of their right to work in the UK.
Ministers are also considering expanding the scheme to other areas.
According to Government proposals, the digital ID would include holders’ names, dates of birth, nationality or residency status, and photographs.