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.

Sir Keir Starmer has sparked fears of a new stealth tax after Kemi Badenoch warned that "millions of our poorest pensioners face being dragged into income tax for the first time ever". Fears arose after the Leader of the Opposition quizzed the Prime Minister on whether Labour would maintain its commitment to unfreeze income tax thresholds.

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.

After a year in power, Keir Starmer appears to be losing not just political weight but material substance, too.

It has removed subsidies that help pensioners to stay warm during winter, sparking such public anger that Starmer vowed to restore them. Its attempt to force sick and disabled people into work by reducing benefits is just the latest backlash stemming from these self-imposed spending restrictions.

Rachel Reeves could not have been clearer as she delivered her first Budget last October. The chancellor told MPs that she had considered whether or not to maintain the freeze on income tax and National Insurance thresholds,

By our own metrics, the government is not thriving. Waiting times at emergency ( A&E) wards may be falling, but at a glacial pace. The number of migrants crossing in small boats has risen by 38% over the past year. Housebuilding is moribund and crime incidents, although relatively low, have increased by 10%.