After what few would rate as a strong and stable start to his Government, things are finally looking up for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and not a moment too soon. Catalysed by a strong showing on the world stage, his approval numbers are trending in the right direction again. In the Commons, he looks assured – to the point where he even seems to be enjoying his weekly victory over Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions.

The same can be said for his set piece public appearances, with Starmer’s speech yesterday scrapping NHS England and subsequent podcast appearances to sell the plan garnering praise from commentators. It’s a world apart from plunging ratings, fury from businesses about tax hikes, anger from the left over winter fuel allowance cuts and frustration from voters at sleazy freebies.

Perhaps we were all too quick to judge? After all, it’s worth remembering that Starmer’s first year as Labour leader was also pretty pedestrian, culminating in a showing so poor at the 2021 local elections and Hartlepool by-election that he even considered resigning as leader.

After his first year as Labour leader though, Starmer began to turn things around. He grew in both confidence and conviction. We could be seeing the same process occurring with Starmer’s premiership, as he settles into Downing Street and learns how to pull the levers of power.

This turnaround in Starmer’s fortunes, if that is what it turns out to be, is extremely timely. On top of this month’s Spring Statement and the May local elections, the Government has committed to releasing a whole host of fundamental policy reviews in ‘Spring’ – which in Whitehall speak often means as late as mid-June – including the Strategic Defence Review, Industrial Strategy, Trade Strategy and Child Poverty Taskforce action plan. This will be capped by the Comprehensive Spending Review on June 11, setting the funding – and policy space - for the next three years.

In the end, if the Spending Review and other major Government strategies do not work as intended it won’t matter and a downward spiral could resume. But success could build confidence in their Plan for Change, in turn building a platform for re-election. Starmer will be hoping he can keep his new-found mojo alive for at least the next few months.

(Photo provided by X)