Pressure on UK living standards poses new danger for Starmer

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks on during his meeting with the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not in picture), at 10 Downing Street, London, Britain June 19, 2025. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

LONDON: The recovery in UK living standards is coming to an end, a potential moment of peril for Prime Minister Keir Starmer who has hailed the recent strength of wage growth as a sign he is delivering on his pledge to make “working people” better off.

When Labour took office in July 2024, pay was rising at well over 5% a year - comfortably outstripping inflation of 2.2%.