Keir Starmer Speech Fallout: PM Stumbles, Backroom Fury – Analysis and Reactions
Eighty days into government after a landslide election win, Sir Keir Starmer came to Liverpool as the first Labour prime minister in 15 years to address conference. It should have been a joyous victory lap, but instead, this is a PM already stumbling, wrong-footed by a row over the amount of freebies he took as leader of the opposition, and dysfunction in Number 10.
A year ago in the very same conference hall, Sir Keir was being cheered on stage almost like a rock star, with staffers nearly in tears as their leader made his pitch to become prime minister. And while the reception was still very warm as he delivered his speech on Tuesday, the country is fast cooling on their new leader.
The hope – and hunger – on display at last year’s conference when Labour were on the cusp of power, and Sir Keir was riding high in the polls, has given way to the hard reality of governing. New polling by Opinium reveals that the prime minister’s approval rating has dropped 45 points to -26 since he became the country’s leader. It now makes him – by a point – less popular than his predecessor Rishi Sunak. Meanwhile, the row over the prime minister taking free clothes, holidays, and tickets to football matches and concerts has also cut through, with two-thirds of people in a recent YouGov poll saying it was wrong to do it. So his task at conference was to try to get his “mission-led” government back on track and try to convey the purpose of the short-term pain he is warning us all about.
Analysis of Keir Starmer’s Speech
The first part of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech aimed to convey the message of “change begins” by highlighting the measures his new government has put in place, such as setting up a new border security command and launching Great British Energy to invest in renewable power. The second part focused on “fixing the foundations” by explaining the tough decisions he was making, including the controversial decision to cut winter fuel allowance. Starmer emphasized that change will take time and will not be easy. The third element of his speech aimed to provide a vision for the future, highlighting the importance of long-term decisions to achieve higher economic growth, improved living standards, a better NHS, safer streets, stronger borders, and more opportunities for children.
While Sir Keir’s speech was filled with rhetoric around “national renewal” and a government “in the service of working people,” the actual announcements made were modest. Insiders reveal that the challenges inherited from the previous government were more significant than anticipated, making the chancellor’s job more challenging. Improvements to public services are expected to come towards the end of the parliament. However, the leadership seems to be struggling with the promised culture change, as infighting and controversies over freebies overshadow the government’s message.
Backroom Fury and Challenges
Behind the scenes, there is growing discontent among backroom special advisers who are facing pay cuts as they transition into government roles. The recent controversy over freebies taken by the prime minister has further intensified frustrations within the government. Senior figures acknowledge that the issue should have been addressed more decisively to prevent it from overshadowing the conference. The leaks from Number 10 have also caused unease, with concerns raised about the handling of the situation and the need to refocus on the government’s missions.
Despite the positive reception of his speech, Sir Keir finds himself grappling with personal scrutiny over his decision to accept over £107,000 in freebies during the last parliament. This has raised questions about the government’s credibility in delivering on its promises of change. It is challenging to convey a message of “change begins” when there are doubts about the consistency between words and actions.
In conclusion, Sir Keir Starmer faces a significant challenge in maintaining public trust and credibility as he navigates the complexities of governing. The fallout from his speech, coupled with internal tensions and controversies, underscores the uphill battle ahead for the Labour government. Only time will tell if Sir Keir can overcome these obstacles and deliver on his vision for a better future for the country.