Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour) delivered a major speech in Liverpool defending his leadership and outlining new domestic and foreign policy goals.

The address comes as Starmer faces a deepening leadership crisis and internal criticism following recent polling setbacks and the fallout from the Iran-Israel conflict.

Starmer took responsibility for the party's recent poll losses during the conference. He used the platform to announce a plan to nationalize British Steel and to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with the European Union. The Prime Minister also announced the launch of a youth-mobility scheme to increase opportunities for young citizens.

On the issue of international security, Starmer said the UK would not be dragged into a war with Iran. This position follows significant scrutiny regarding the UK's role in the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.

Despite the internal turmoil, some data suggests a shift in public perception. Starmer's overall public rating is minus 14, which is an improvement from minus 40 when his stance on the Iran war was first considered [1].

The Prime Minister's efforts to stabilize his standing within the Labour Party involve balancing a pivot toward industrial nationalization with a cautious approach to Middle East diplomacy. He said to party members in Liverpool that there is a need for stability amid the current leadership challenges.

“The UK would not be dragged into a war with Iran”

Starmer is attempting to pivot from a defensive posture to a proactive policy agenda. By combining populist economic measures, such as the nationalization of British Steel, with a firm refusal to enter a wider conflict in the Middle East, he is seeking to reconcile the moderate and left wings of the Labour Party while stabilizing his public approval ratings.