Although MPs comfortably passed the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill by 336 votes to 242, dozens of Labour backbenchers thumbed their nose at the prime minister. Some 47 voted against the legislation, with a further 14 abstaining.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer answers questions during a press conference on Aug. 1, 2024. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer answers questions during a press conference on Aug. 1, 2024. Henry Nicholls—AFP/ Contributor It was a moment that will remain etched in British minds.

The Prime Minister cuts a dash on the international stage, but at home seems detached from his own administration

Keir Starmer’s government has hit its lowest ever approval rating with the public, according to a damning new poll. The YouGov survey, carried out to mark Labour’s first year in power, found that just 13% of voters are happy with the party’s performance. By contrast, 67% of the public say they disapprove of how the government is doing.

It boils down to this - how do Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron make the case for what they see as the virtues of patience, nuance, subtleties and trade-offs in an era of growing impatience at the perceived repeated failures of those in high office?

Starmer announces ‘groundbreaking’ one in, one out migration deal at press conference - French president ends three-day state visit with announcement on plan to tackle illegal Channel crossings

The effect of the policy is to drag millions of workers into higher tax bands when their pay goes up, raising tens of billions of pounds for the Treasury in the process. But critics say this is a stealth tax, a sneaky way of giving the chancellor more money to spend without having to increase the rate of income tax or National Insurance.

"Just stop being cruel to people", one victim says.