Sir Keir Starmer's emotional resignation on the steps of Downing Street was hard to watch. He is a decent man who has devoted much of his life to helping other people. He has been a committed public servant and he deserved better than a teary departure in front of his wife. But Starmer welling up revealed a key weakness of his short stint as Prime Minister.
Lack of Emotional Connection
Starmer never once displayed the same level of emotional connection in office at a time of great hardship for voters. The best politicians have been able to feel the pain of the people they seek to represent. Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and even Ronald Reagan all connected with voters in a way that kept them in office. Starmer, despite being a warm and friendly man in private, always came across as cold and robotic in public.
Voters' Judgment on Cost of Living
Voters delivered their judgment on Starmer early on and unfortunately for him there was no right to appeal. His lack of emotional intelligence also manifested itself in the decisions he made. The No1 issue facing voters is the cost of living and the struggle to make ends meet. Folk are tired of being broke and want more money in their pockets. The priority for the Starmer Government should have been measures putting more money into people's pockets. But the reality is Starmer was largely defined by his ministers trying to take cash away from people on low incomes.
His initial plan was to stop winter fuel payments for elderly people on about £12,000 a year – a ludicrously low limit. His first stab at welfare reform was also a disaster that had to be abandoned.
International Successes and Domestic Failures
Starmer did notch up successes – and most were on the international stage. He kept the UK out of Trump's crazy war with Iran and always came across as the adult in the room in global meetings. But he ultimately failed and in the unforgiving world of politics his time was up after less than two years.
Andy Burnham's Challenge Ahead
Andy Burnham will be prime minister soon and he will have a short space of time to connect with the voters. His most pressing challenge will be easing a cost-of-living crisis that continues to bite. He will also have to implement centre-left policies in a way that does not inhibit economic growth. But Burnham is a better communicator than Starmer and a politician who finds it easier to paint a positive vision of the future.
The verdict of the people so far is that this Labour Government has not delivered. Continued failure will result in Nigel Farage becoming Prime Minister – a disaster for our country. Burnham must have a relentless focus on core issues and never lose sight of the people's priorities.
