In his first 100 days as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer admitted to facing some “choppy days” but emphasized that despite the challenges, he believed his government had made significant progress. During an interview with BBC’s Newscast, Starmer described the job as “much tougher than anything I’ve done before, but much better,” citing early successes like resolving pay disputes in the healthcare sector and introducing what he called “the biggest shake-up of workers’ rights in a generation.”

However, Starmer acknowledged that there had been obstacles along the way, mentioning issues related to donations and staffing. One notable setback was the resignation of his former chief of staff, Sue Gray, which followed weeks of internal tensions within his team. Additionally, Starmer had to repay more than £6,000 in gifts and hospitality, an issue that drew attention for weeks.

Despite these bumps, Starmer maintained that he had largely achieved what he set out to do in his first three months in office. Looking ahead, he hinted at a focus on tackling NHS waiting lists, indicating that this would be a key issue in the upcoming Budget.

On the political front, Starmer had to address a controversy surrounding his Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh. Haigh had described P&O Ferries as “cowboy operators” and encouraged others to boycott the company in light of their 2022 decision to fire 800 seafarers and replace them with cheaper workers. This criticism caused tensions with P&O’s parent company, DP World, which was considering a £1 billion port investment in the UK. In response to Haigh’s remarks, DP World reportedly postponed its investment announcement, and its CEO is now unlikely to attend an upcoming government-organized investment summit.

When asked if Haigh’s comments reflected the government’s stance, Starmer distanced himself from her remarks, stating that it was not the government’s view. This was the first public disagreement between Starmer and one of his cabinet ministers since taking office. The situation was particularly sensitive for the Labour government, which has been trying to present itself as pro-business.

Despite the controversy, Starmer expressed optimism about the UK’s economic prospects. He pointed to the upcoming investment summit as a sign of growing confidence in the UK economy and suggested that businesses had been hesitant to invest in recent years due to the political instability caused by frequent changes in government and leadership. Now, he argued, his government’s focus on economic stability was helping to restore that confidence.

Reflecting on his personal life since moving into 10 Downing Street, Starmer noted how his new role had affected his family. He and his family were now living in a flat above the office, which he described as “odd” because visitors had to pass through security to see them. He mentioned seeing less of his family than he would like, though there was one silver lining: his children, who come home from school in the afternoon, could now occasionally drop by his office for a brief visit. This was a rare opportunity for him to spend time with them during the workday, something that wouldn’t have been possible before.

Overall, Starmer’s first few months as prime minister have been marked by a mixture of successes and challenges. While he remains positive about the progress his government has made, he acknowledges that there are still hurdles to overcome, both within his administration and in the broader political landscape.