UK prime minister criticises opposition ahead of local elections

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has criticised opposition parties as new measures expanding workers’ rights come into effect, warning that voting for them could jeopardise progress achieved.

He specifically targeted the Green Party and Reform UK, emphasising that only Labour can balance economic stability with meaningful reform, Caliber.Az reports per The Guardian. 

According to Starmer, alternative political forces either propose solutions that could worsen conditions or are unprepared to govern.

Starmer also dismissed business criticism, calling the reforms the most significant strengthening of workers’ rights in a generation. Measures under the Employment Rights Act 2025 include sick pay from day one, access to parental leave, and enhanced protection for employees on insecure contracts.

The government has additionally announced the removal of the two-child cap on social benefits, a 4.8% increase in the state pension, and a rise in the basic Universal Credit payment, which Starmer hailed as key achievements of his agenda.

The statements come ahead of local elections in May amid growing opposition momentum. Recent polls show Labour trailing competitors, while the Green Party, Conservatives, and Reform UK post comparable results.

Criticism of the government has come from both the opposition and the left. Unite union representatives said the reforms fell short of expectations, while Conservatives, led by Kemi Badenoch, argued that expanded social benefits would add strain to the budget.

By Jeyhun Aghazada