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Andrew Neil has delivered a stark assessment of Keir Starmer's leadership, claiming the Prime Minister's authority within the Labour Party is "shot to hell" and difficult, if not impossible, to recover. Speaking on Times Radio, Neil said the scale of internal dissent just 18 months into government was unprecedented for a party with a landslide majority.

"I have never seen a breakdown in the discipline of a government like this," Neil said. "As we head towards Christmas and into the new year, Keir Starmer's authority within his own party is shot to hell. How do you get it back? You don't. You can't get it back."

Neil's comments come after Labour advocated a return to a customs union with the European Union, despite the policy being explicitly ruled out in the party's election manifesto.

Neil argued the public manoeuvring exposed Starmer's inability to enforce collective cabinet responsibility.

"It's written in the manifesto. The Prime Minister has said on the record twice this month that we're not doing it. And yet here we are, with people making the front pages by contradicting him," he said.

Neil also criticised the customs union proposal itself, describing it as "one of the most stupid economic policies anybody could propose".

He argued that rejoining a customs union would require the UK to abandon independent trade deals with key global partners and accept EU trade law and European Court of Justice jurisdiction without influence.

"For all that, the economic benefit on its own is close to zero," he said.

He contrasted this with the option of fully rejoining the EU, which he said would at least allow for an honest debate with the public.

"If they want to rejoin the EU, they should say so. Let's have that debate and put it back to the people," Neil added.

The broadcaster linked the policy rebellion to internal leadership manoeuvring, suggesting senior Labour figures were positioning themselves for a challenge rather than waiting for setbacks in local elections.

"They don't want to wait. Otherwise, why do this now? Why make these challenges to his authority at this moment?" Neil said.

Describing Starmer as "the most unpopular prime minister since records began," Neil said his leadership is now drifting, likening his position to an abandoned ship "floating on a sea of Labour discontent and close to anarchy."