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"I will remain in this office by 2027," the Prime Minister remarked, noting that if our interview went well, he might invite the interviewer into Downing Street for a follow-up talk in 2026.

There is rarely ever downtime for leaders. Shortly before the interview began, the PM had been on the phone with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky and attempting to understand exactly what had happened in Venezuela, where his close ally, US President Donald Trump, had recently attacked and captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro.

By the time the discussion, which was considerably lengthier than typical, had ended, Maduro had been indicted in New York.

Renewed Energy for the New Year

As the new year begins, the Prime Minister seems to have had something of a refresh. Perhaps even just some downtime with loved ones at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence.

This appeared to have resulted in better spirits than at the difficult conclusion of 2025, a dreadful annus horribilis for him.

But are he and his allies kidding themselves if they believe his fortunes are set to improve?

Party Concerns

The uncomfortable reality for the leader is that many of his party members think he's underperforming at his job. Some of them would sooner gamble and get him out in 2026.

But Starmer was rejecting the idea when we spoke on Saturday morning.

On several occasions he stated he'd be "assessed at the next election", arguing nobody would take his term from him – despite the fact that the optimal path of halting Nigel Farage and Reform UK reaching No 10 might be for Labour to replace leader.

"This is the fight of our times and I plan to be at the forefront," he said.

The May Elections

The problem for the PM is that he will be scrutinised long before then – in a major set of elections in May across the UK. He sought to argue, perhaps excessively, that they are about who runs local authorities, and who runs the devolved administrations in Holyrood or Cardiff – and not a verdict on Westminster.

True – up to a point. But although he may not want to admit it, No 10 will be judged by those elections too.

This did not stop Sir Keir stating that there were no scenario under which he would walk away, even if a his colleagues ran against him for the job, if those elections be catastrophic for Labour.

An Optimistic Outlook

He attempted to rationalise his low poll ratings by saying the voters was naturally anxious for things to get better. He tried to persuade me, and the nation, that the coming months would be distinct.

The economy would improve notwithstanding rising unemployment, he argued, when strategies the government put in place during their initial rocky year began to bear fruit.

• He committed to shut asylum hotels before the current target date of 2029, although he did not set a specific date on that.
• He said too, with the qualification that it was not a done deal, that a peace deal in Ukraine felt a greater possibility now than at any point since Russia's major invasion.
• He revealed for the first time that Western partners were now discussing how to integrate US and European forces to offer security for Ukraine – to safeguard a possible peace.

His core point is that soon the country will "turn the corner".

A Consistent Script

The prime minister may have communicated with renewed vitality than I've seen from him for a while – less tense, perhaps, with more time to talk.

But despite encountering calls from many directions for a more decisive approach, with greater political clarity, more dynamism, more pace and more urgency, his points were well-known ones.

When he finds himself in considerable political peril, is a different approach required a change of tack?

No administration, and certainly not one that has been unpopular for an extended period, gets everything its as desired.

The Prime Minister's problems are not only because government is difficult, but because he and his team have erred, even in the last few weeks.

Controversies and Dangers

The PM expressed regret that he was sorry for saying he was "pleased" to see the return of the Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El Fattah to the UK following an controversy when past remarks he'd made in the past – including calls for Zionists and police to be killed – came to light.

Sir Keir blamed "the process" for failing to identify what the activist had said before – a more diplomatic way of saying it wasn't his responsibility.

And he is courting evident political perils as the year unfolds. His friendship with the US president entails a new risk after Trump's strikes on Venezuela.

Having interviewed Sir Keir Starmer, a ex- human rights lawyer who opposed the war in Iraq, over many years, the thought he would be content with such action seems unlikely.

International Law and Brexit

He asserted he was a "longtime advocate of international law" but the public "simply haven't got the complete details at the moment".

Opponents wanted him to denounce it prior to the interview. And the administration is expected to face further scrutiny to give an definitive view in Parliament in the near future.

There has also long been growing desire in the Labour party to undo or remake some of the results of Brexit.

Sir Keir denies he's doing that, but his new specific plan to align more closely with the European trading bloc – the giant economic European trading zone – will probably trigger protests that he is going back on his pledge never to try to overturn the choices that flowed from Brexit.

A move to integrate into more of the single market will satisfy a faction on his own side, but it is easy fodder for Reform and the Conservatives to