Keir Starmer expressed concern that Britain could face a rise in far-right populism similar to that seen in Germany and France, saying it was his mission to “give the country a little hope”.

Speaking to journalists in Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could come out on top in three state elections next month, Starmer said the growing support for such groups was “something that concerns me”, particularly after the unrest in Britain, which was sparked in part by far-right misinformation.

“I think we in Britain should be aware of the challenge posed by the far right, populism and nationalism,” the Prime Minister said after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

“There are a number of reasons for my concern, partly because of events in the UK, partly because of developments in other European countries, including France and Germany.

“I think that democracy and progressives must face this challenge. We need to have a common discussion across Europe about what this means. In addition, I would like to continue this discussion with the progressive parties.”

Asked if there had been any countries that had helped stem the tide of what Starmer called the “snake oil of populism and nationalism”, he said he did not want to single out any particular country, not least because the issues vary from country to country.

“I don’t think you would expect me to say this, but I firmly believe that we need a better response to this in the UK. And that is for those who believe in democracy, and particularly those who believe in progressive democracy, to talk about how to learn from each other around the world,” he said.

“This is something that is taking up my time. I believe that in the end, implementation is the way forward. It’s about a dissatisfaction with policy. The easy answer is tempting when people don’t believe there is a better answer, and that’s why progressives have to give the better answer.”

Starmer’s trip to Germany came on the heels of a sometimes pessimistic speech in Downing Street, his first major public address of his time in office, in which he warned of likely tax rises in October’s budget and other “painful” decisions ahead.

When asked in Berlin whether he could guarantee that people would feel the benefits of his policies by the end of the current legislative period, Starmer replied: “Yes, and let me offer a little hope.”

He continued: “The point of this exercise is to make sure we can make the changes that are needed. If you don’t clean up the mess and get it right, you’ll have nothing to build on and that’s why this is a critical step.

“If you’re redecorating your house and want it to look a lot nicer, it’s usually better to tear it down first and get rid of the damp and the cracks, rather than painting it in five minutes, thinking it looks a lot better, and by Christmas the cracks and damp are back.

“So this is actually a project of hope, but it has to start with the hard work, with the difficult things, with eradicating the decay.”

Asked about one of the fiscally difficult decisions already taken, namely limiting the winter heating allowance for pensioners to those receiving Pension Supplement. This decision raised fears that some older people would no longer be able to heat their homes, Starmer said he hoped to “get as many eligible pensioners as possible into Pension Supplement”.

He said: “This is really important for us and we are looking at the best way to increase that number to ensure that those at risk receive protection.”

When asked about a possible tax increase in the budget – such as fuel duty – Starmer reiterated his promise not to increase VAT, income tax or national insurance contributions. But he went on to say: “I’m not going to speculate on the budget.”