Keir Starmer praised for statesman role abroad but can he show 'same mojo' at home?

One diplomat said, "Trump could be Starmer's best opportunity." This suggests that the brash real estate mogul who disrupts the world order may be just what the meticulous Prime Minister, whose poll numbers remain consistently low, needs.

One Labour business supporter called it "the Prime Minister's finest hour" – a leader who supported remaining in the EU placing Britain at the heart of international action, while Trump is "shaking the foundations of the Western world." Indeed, Sir Keir Starmer has been very active lately, visiting the White House, hosting a European summit at Lancaster House last weekend, embracing Zelenskyy, and co-plotting a path to peace with Macron.

The Prime Minister's frequent international activities have dominated the headlines, making it difficult for the Conservatives and other opposition parties to compete. Moments of crisis like the one we are experiencing are often times when the public pays attention to politics and seeks leadership. In a world of global instability, does 10 Downing Street seem more solid than ever?

Some of the Prime Minister's colleagues are convinced of this. One government source revealed that all the international activity is "almost Blair-esque in style" and can even be compared to the Falklands War during the Thatcher era, which allowed the Conservative Prime Minister of the 1980s to enhance her reputation and win consecutive elections. Another minister said that other leaders are openly "unsettled" by Trump's unpredictable statements and behavior, but "Keir has spent his whole life dealing with extreme situations. What he is able to do is keep people focused on what really matters."

However, high-profile diplomacy does not mean that Britain will get its way – missiles are still falling, and Donetsk and Kharkiv are once again under attack. Donald Trump's commitment to guaranteeing Ukraine's security, or even the future of NATO, is also questionable. Polls show that after a bad start to his premiership and a sharp drop in poll numbers, Sir Keir's personal approval rating and Labour's support have risen slightly.

His government would not be the first to be seduced by the intense glamour of global diplomacy, which, however difficult or valuable, does not necessarily translate into significant domestic advantage. Perhaps in these turbulent times, we are seeing the Prime Minister trying to play the role of "chief consoler." Within political circles, Sir Keir Starmer has long been criticized for being a bit dull and unwilling to engage in the minute-by-minute political game. But with Trump in the White House, creating all sorts of drama, the Prime Minister's colleagues believe his steadiness has become an advantage.

And he has shown a willingness to act – increasing defense spending (albeit after months of pressure), convening European leaders, and developing military plans for a post-peace agreement. A senior government source said: "The global crisis means people are looking to us again, and the government has been making an argument that people are responding to: we are on their side."

However, aligning with an American president does not always work. Tony Blair's relationship with George W. Bush was more than just his chinos making him uncomfortable. Therefore, while there is evidence that public perception of Sir Keir has improved since his visit to the White House, as one union leader warned, "To make this all work, he has to show the same energy at home."

Take this week's sentencing controversy, for example, or the upcoming debate about welfare cuts, which ministers have been working hard to prepare for. But most importantly, the top priority is: the poor state of the economy and how to achieve economic growth. In the next two weeks or so, Rachel Reeves will address Parliament, likely announcing billions of pounds in public spending cuts. Government sources point to some better data on wages and lower interest rates, but Reeves faces enormous pressure to explain how the economy will escape its long-term slump.

All the brilliant moments and handshakes with international leaders cannot change that. One ally said the Prime Minister "can walk and chew gum at the same time." But they also admitted, "There are only so many hours in the day." Helping Ukraine fight Putin's Russia, the Prime Minister can easily tell a clear moral story and has a strong desire to shape it. In contrast, "How do you bring prosperity to the regions? That is a real puzzle."

In the coming days, starting with Prime Minister's close aide Pat McFadden's appearance in the studio tomorrow, you will see the government trying to accelerate the pace of domestic affairs. First – and perhaps not a box office hit – they will look at making the Whitehall machine work better, including making it easier to fire civil servants. Ministers have told me that Downing Street is operating more effectively than before Christmas and, after the early embarrassment of being underprepared, now has a clearer sense of direction.

Sir Keir regularly holds meetings with the cabinet ministers responsible for the government's "missions." I am told he will "grill" them and their officials – and if their answers are not satisfactory, they will be called back for another meeting. "He's a very nice man, but also a tough man," one of the ministers revealed.

In addition to streamlining parts of the civil service, the government will also announce more plans to cut billions of pounds in welfare spending. Labour will argue that this is justified to help those trapped in welfare dependency – while critics will say it is a way for the government to save money on some of the most vulnerable groups. The Prime Minister is expected to give his own speech on Thursday, attempting to weave it all into a grand narrative about domestic and international security. A government source said that the past few weeks have inspired Sir Keir's thinking on this: when the international stage is uncertain, "everything feels a bit wobbly," and domestic security issues are amplified: you look around and feel your job is not secure, your streets are not safe.

This idea has been around for a while. "Security" is a word and concept that Reeves and Sir Keir used in opposition – but recently he has been putting forward a more ideological argument than those around him are used to hearing. In addition to arguing that what happens around the world is inextricably linked to what happens at home, he also argues that the old international consensus among Western leaders has failed millions of voters.

This argument was concretized in a lengthy memo he sent to cabinet ministers and political teams in mid-February. In the memo, he wrote: "The challenge facing the government is to shape this new era. Not to defend institutions that have collapsed or old ideas that have failed, but to be the voice of those working people who most desire security in their lives and a resurgence of the nation." He wrote that politicians wrongly assumed that the market could solve almost everything. "We were intimidated by the markets – we started to act as if the markets always knew best and the state should stand aside."

He also said that the government had failed on immigration, failing to understand public concerns or tell the truth. "We ended up treating all immigration as an unmitigated good. Somehow, politics ended up being too afraid to say the obvious – some people are genuine refugees, some are not; people coming here to work can be beneficial, but an island nation needs to control its borders."

Some excerpts from this letter have been disclosed previously. But it is worth noting that, reading through the entire document, the Prime Minister concludes his letter to colleagues by calling for "security" for the country, while updating public services. He wrote: "Now is the moment for us to be bolder – to push ahead with massive reforms, to change our politics and our country. Security and renewal are our twin tasks – we must now deliver them."

In the coming days, you will hear more about this argument – we saw some of it in the studio on Sunday morning. The profound uncertainty brought about by Donald Trump's entry into the White House provides an opportunity for the Prime Minister to emerge on the world stage. His government is now more openly weaving an argument that efforts to build global security are fundamentally linked to addressing domestic security issues.

That is why, after attending all the diplomatic handshakes, Sir Keir returned to the familiar reflective vest and hard hat, announcing defense jobs in Belfast. 10 Downing Street wants you to see and believe that a crisis abroad can mean opportunity at home. This sudden event in the field of global security provides a clearer story to tell for a Prime Minister who is sometimes accused of being a blank page.

But ultimately, for any Prime Minister, what matters most is what happens at home, not adventures abroad. A skeptical public needs to be fully persuaded to believe that the government can improve their situation – making it easier for them to pay their bills, buy a house, or for their children to find a decent job. As one senior Labour campaign figure concluded, "He enjoys the role of statesman, but ultimately, changes in people's lives will be decisive."