Ten summers ago, England were knocked out of the Euros by a country with more volcanoes than professional footballers. The loss to Iceland was a brutal humiliation. When, the next day, the befuddled Roy Hodgson, who had been in charge of the shambles, was forced by the FA to do a press conference, his opening remark wrote the headlines: “I don’t really know what I’m doing here.”
Keir Starmer didn’t quite say that yesterday after one of the darkest nights in Labour’s history, but those devastating local election results showed that the country clearly believes he doesn’t have a clue. And many within his own party share that view, hence keeping him away from the campaign trail for fear of turning off even more voters.
Starmer’s allies seem to be offering two pitches now: “He may be deeply unpopular and unable to do anything, but he’s going nowhere, so people will have to get used to it,” or “If we change leaders, we’ll look like the Tories who everyone hated so much they put us in power. And look how that turned out.” Neither of these arguments will wash.
They also argue that his government has done many good things, such as banning no-fault evictions and lifting the two-child benefit cap (which Starmer didn’t want to do), but that the message isn’t cutting through. Might that be because, through a litany of U-turns, cock-ups, and shocking judgment calls, the majority of people have decided that Starmer is a duplicitous, robotic dud and switched off?
With the surge of support for Reform and the Greens, led by populist characters whom many of Labour’s voters are drawn to, that is fatal. I usually admire the sentiment of staying loyal to a leader, but Starmer’s approval ratings, and thus the government’s, are only going one way. Because, to quote a famous Tory poster, the perception is that Labour isn’t working.
As those catastrophic election results hint, without a relatable leader who can energise the party base and offer the country a new vision, Labour will be wiped out at the next General Election. The good news is that the election is three years away, so there is no need to panic. Having a leadership battle now would be disastrous, not least because there is no suitable replacement. But Starmer is such a liability that even his allies privately concede he cannot lead them into the next election. So something has to give, or as former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell prophesied yesterday, Labour could soon be facing an existential crisis.
Two years ago, Starmer pledged “change” and a return to “grown-up politics.” Now is his chance to deliver on those promises by agreeing a timetable with the Cabinet to hand over the reins to someone who gives them a chance of survival. Preferably a skilled political operator from outside the London millionaire bubble, with convictions and the courage to apply them, who has the experience and the common touch.
To this lifelong Labour voter, that is Andy Burnham. Over the coming months, he should be allowed to stand as an MP, and if he wins, to convince the party that he is the person to take on Farage and Polanski. By the way, 10 years ago, Hodgson resigned because he knew his time was up. Over to you, Keir.
