Keir Starmer's attempt to save himself is too late – he's just proved he's finished. The Prime Minister had one big announcement, but it is not enough to make up for the disasters of his Government.
Analysis by Jonathan Walker, Whitehall Editor
Does Keir Starmer believe he can cling on as Prime Minister? This is the big question at Westminster. Announcing his plan to introduce tough new age restrictions on social media, Sir Keir said he expected them to be in place by Christmas. He spoke as if he expected still to be in charge when the changes are implemented at the end of the year. But the truth is that Sir Keir could be out of Downing Street much sooner than that.
If Andy Burnham becomes MP for Makerfield in this week's by-election, the topic of conversation at Westminster will be what happens next. Will Mr Burnham move swiftly to demand Sir Keir set out a timetable for his resignation, or will he wait? And does Sir Keir really intend to fight any leadership challenge, as he claims?
The Prime Minister has insisted he will not resign. He has said that if there is a contest for the Labour leadership, in which party activists get to choose who becomes prime minister, then he will be a candidate. And maybe he has a point. Plenty of voters want Sir Keir gone, and would like to pick a replacement prime minister. But most of those voters won't be included in any Labour leadership battle. They will just have to watch, while party members get to decide who runs the country.
One view at Westminster is that Sir Keir is bluffing. In other words, he will resign if Andy Burnham tells him to, whatever he says now. But there is a possibility that the Prime Minister really means it. Perhaps he intends to fight on. If that is the case, then it explains why he has suddenly taken bold action to ban teenagers from social media, after previously rejecting calls from the Conservatives for a ban.
It won't please everyone. And it won't be 100% effective, as he said himself. But the bold plan announced in No 10 may go some way to reducing the mental health problems and bullying that some young people experience. It will also make it harder for predators to target and abuse children. While the social media ban has its critics, large numbers of experts and parents have been calling for action for years.
Sir Keir has got something right. But he's left it too late. One big decision now cannot make up for all the nonsense we have seen from this Government in the two years or so since it was elected in 2024. Pensioners have faced benefit cuts, and employers have been asked to pay more, and for what? The Government can't even provide our armed forces with the money they urgently need to defend this country. One big announcement now is not going to save Sir Keir.
