Cabinet ministers were urged to form a “praetorian guard” around Keir Starmer at a highly charged meeting with the Prime Minister in Downing Street this week.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, called out recent leadership chatter, urging her colleagues to protect the Prime Minister from rebellious Labour MPs who continue to agitate against his leadership. Starmer delivered closing remarks which even his critics around the table described as unexpectedly emotional.
The comments came at a political cabinet meeting, which civil servants do not attend. Labour’s top team held a frank and prolonged discussion about their strategy and the current political situation. Several figures blamed Labour MPs for causing recent difficulties. Alexander called on the cabinet to unite, in what many will see as a pointed message for Wes Streeting, who was also in attendance.
After the discussion, Starmer delivered closing remarks, which some less typically supportive colleagues said they found “uplifting” and “inspiring”, to their admitted surprise.
“Keir summed up, reminding everyone why we’re in politics, why we’re Labour,” one loyalist in attendance said. “It was very emotional, and forthright. Everyone was slightly taken aback to be honest by the passion and fluency of his remarks and what this is all about and why we’re doing it.”
Starmer told colleagues that he was proud to lead the most working-class cabinet in history, and that “we should never forget that most people do not go on the same journey – their voices that should be heard around this cabinet table”.
The Prime Minister also referenced his brother and his sister and said that the government should be fighting every day for the people who have suffered under years of low growth through a lack of opportunities. “It was quite a moment, of the whole team coming together,” one attendee said.
Not everyone was convinced. “I’m afraid there is a ‘steady as she goes’ tendency in parts of the cabinet that are saying ‘keep going’ as the iceberg approaches and are blaming Labour MPs for our problems,” a senior Labour source said. “That the cabinet feels a bit more upbeat is sort of neither here nor there when we are still headed for crashing defeat,” said another.
Starmer and his allies, however, will hope this moment of impressing his often sceptical colleagues is a sign he is turning a corner, as he fights to improve his standing, both in the country and in the eyes of his own party.
1-randomonium on
What all camps in the Labour party should actually be doing is brainstorming ways and making compromises that would protect the party’s future, because it’s facing an existential question in 2029 and this affects all of them.
If I were Starmer I’d be thinking of ways to improve the party’s media management and spin, ways to take Farage down a peg or two, and for ways to ensure there is a successor in 1-2 years that can provide a genuine reset for the Labour government as the Tories successfully accomplished with Boris Johnson in 2019.
yubnubster on
I don’t hate Starmer, or especially dislike him, but if Labour want to have a chance at beating Reform, they are going to need someone with a bit of charisma in charge at some point. I hate that that is the case btw, but he’s just not a great politician and can’t successfully sell ideas to the public.
Even if their policies are starting to have a positive impact and even if that’s reported in the news widely enough for people to hear it (unlikely), the personal dislike that so many people have for him is a dead end for labour.
JanJanTheWoodWorkMan on
> Starmer told colleagues that he was proud to lead the most working-class cabinet in history
There isn’t a ‘working class’ in the way people keep pretending there is. A graduate walking into a Big Four job is not working class in any meaningful sense. Someone who has spent years shuffling emails in an office and is now being made redundant is not thinking in class terms either. That label does nothing for them. It doesn’t describe their life, their risks, or their reality anymore.
aleopardstail on
the halfwits and quarterwits around him know the next lot of elections will be dire, they need the bollard as a lightning rod
they also know none of them would be any more popular
Thetonn on
He is just not very good at this.
Labour have a regular problem of choosing the right leader for the last battle. Starmer would have been perfect in 2015 for the Brexit campaign. Corbyn would have been far more appropriate in 2010 to oppose austerity. Miliband would have been a much needed breathe of fresh air in 2007, and Brown would probably have delivered more structural change with Blair’s majority while avoiding getting involved in Iraq.
Neither_Computer5331 on
I just can’t see him winning back the public – far too many errors in the first year and a half of the government. He’s seen as a joke now – listen to The News Quiz or any panel comedy show. The public opinion is so low that they really should consider a new leader. He’s awful at PMQs and frankly nobody knows what he actually stands for.
Substantial youth voters have been lost to The Greens, possibly forever.
What would he do if everything went right? How would Britain change? What is Starmerism?
Realistically, the longer he stays, the more he’s helping Farage.
Chemistry-Deep on
There are definitely green shoots of things getting better. Immigration is down (if you care about that sort of thing), economy is inching back to normality, foreign policy has been handled well for the most part (he’s dealt with Trump and Ukraine well anyway). I’m not really sure if any other candidates would do any better, and the only two “rock star” candidates are both current mayors so are not eligible as it stands.
Perhaps his MPs could try and support him first before leaping to ousting him. I suspect a lot of these articles are just journalists trying to push a narrative, though.
Middle-Ticket8911 on
Does anyone here seriously find Streeting more electable and charismatic than Starmer? Dude is a bit delusional IMO. Andy Burnham I can see as being more widely appealing.
SilasBeit on
I don’t understand why he gets so much hate, seems to be delivering on key pledges – not all – but nobody’s perfect? I don’t think he’s particularly likable personality wise, at least what we are shown in the media. Come on Labour PR team where are you?
AccomplishedAct5364 on
Starmer is just surrounded by a bunch of corrupt idiots who’ve sabotaged him every step of the way.
He’s definitely the best thing about the Labour Party right now, which isn’t saying much but I believe it
esteban-colberto on
Starmer even if can change himself it’s difficult to change the perception of him in the voters minds. Need someone else to inject positivity and convince voters of the new direction.
LyingFacts on
It makes me laugh how (not even a Labour nor Starmer fan) how folks can’t critically think.
This article is designed to make you feel and think a certain way.
Where is the media a few days ago when London had the lowest murders ever recorded in the last decade??????
Within 18 months of a government Labour has done a lot of good.
It’s just dailyfail and others attacking 24/7.
Starmer has two political parties to contend with.
One is filled with those that created the mess and the other, well, also now filled with those that made the mess.
AcanthaceaeOwn1481 on
He may be a decent lawyer, but a bad politician managing a country.
EvrytimeILeaveMyRoom on
I think they should stop pretending to be socially right wing and focus on shouting about the good work they’ve been doing elsewhere. When people’s lives get better then the culture war stuff will die down and become irrelevant.
They should also stop hammering the middle class and go after proper hoarded wealth.
Starmer could be good if he stop flopping around pretending to please everyone.
soundguyjon on
Someone with a sense of fucking optimism would be nice. Even when Starmer announces a win (which there have been they are just terrible at promoting them) it still comes across like a loss.
We know everything’s a mess, we know all about the problems we face, we know the world is in a precarious place right now and I get we all need to understand that but how on earth can the country be optimistic for the future if the people running the show don’t believe in it.
Yes, I want competence, yes I want more boring politics with less sleeze but give us something to believe in from someone who actually believes in it themselves.
WritesCrapForStrap on
I mean, who would you replace him with? Wes Streeting? Just replacing a damp cloth with a wet blanket.
I feel like the Starmer hate is a symptom of online echo chamber.
I think he comes across very well in interviews and in diplomatic exchanges, appears competent… whether he is or not is up for debate.
Mkwdr on
Either Labour will start to be able to show the positive difference they have made and scrape in the next election, or they will need to at least stay credible and get a decent second place ready to step in when Reform implodes. If they start playing the media’s game of musical leadership chairs they will lose more credibility in the long run than keeping someone who isn’t very charismatic. I don’t believe that any of the other candidates will make enough of a difference to not in their turn be undermined.
SojournerInThisVale on
Pretty hard to protect him when he keeps changing position. I’d be furious if I was a Labour MP who’d gone on TV and repeated the party line around digital ID (know it wouldn’t be popular) to then have the rug pulled from under me
Cautious_Repair3503 on
I am so tired of people who care more about staying in power than doing the right thing. Loyalty shouldn’t be a thing at this level, you should feel free to displace someone if they don’t do the right thing.
Street_Owl on
Labour haven’t got a chance. The damage has been done.
lupinle1 on
Compared with previous Tory governments Starmer has done a really good job. He has come up with concrete solutions and made genuine attempts to implement them. He’s also willing to listen to public opinion and adjust his policies. I want my PM to be boring and serious about their job. No more charismatic strong man BS.
lookitsthesun on
Ridiculous stuff. He’s a shite career politician, not an endangered wild animal. Jettison him before it’s too late
scotsman1919 on
Anyone who actually believes Farage would be a good PM or make the UK better is deluded.
His plans are ridiculous for a start and he has so corrupt is laughable.
There is concrete proof who he has spoken too, money to Reform from serous right wing parties, he has done 1 single drop in at his Clacton office but STILL people believe him and his total lies.
KS is a crap PM, utter crap. I don’t like him as he hides and won’t make any decision by himself and there is a major issue for me.
MuttyMcBarnes on
Bye bye Keir. I hope someone saves the Labour party and what it used to stand for.
WhuppdyDoo on
I have never been a fan of Starmer. right from the very beginning when he was Brexit Secretary. But I don’t see anyone who could replace him.
Streeting is the more glib politician but comes across as even less trustworthy. There is also no reason to believe Streeting is better at the wonky side of the job, which actually makes the difference to our country.
Angela Rayner, I think, would be too easily pushed around and in any case the probability of a sexist backlash would be near 100%.
Starmer is boring, but that might be what we need right now.
Spamgrenade on
Hmm lets see what Starmer needs protecting from.
NHS waiting lists down, inflation down, interest rates down, GDP up. Immigration down, deportations up. All without raping public services. Not to mention a more or less spot on foreign policy in a very difficult period.
Things are gradually improving. Any of our “successive” governments over say the last 14 years would be pretty envious.
JadedSignificance990 on
Now I have an image of them just huddling around Starmer and he’s just squished in the middle.
Greywood_87 on
If there is any justice Keir Starmer will never be able to show his face in public again after he’s out. And I dare say he won’t want to either.
Where you going starm-rat? Monaco? Switzerland?
3rdtimes-the-charm on
I’ll take the competence and steady results along with the u turns and fumbles over Nigel ‘pedo praising’ Farage every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
boringfantasy on
Fire McSweeney for god sake. He is at fault for almost every blunder.
asfish123 on
Starmer is a weak, ineffective leader running a party with little or no clue. The fact that his own party thinks he is the best option, which for them he probably is, tells you everything you need to know.
The Tories are just as bad, if not worse. Most of them still don’t understand that they are finished for a generation, as they are no longer the default choice after a poor Labour government has had its term.
We will likely have a Reform government next time, although it will be filled with Tories who have jumped ship once they realise their party’s position has not improved by 2029.
The irony is that Starmer will be the one who puts that government in power.
bars_and_plates on
We desperately need a Prime Minister who shows _leadership_ and actually has conviction and goes for the big wins rather than different forms of managed decline.
Starmer would have such an absolutely easy time on his hands if he had a real mission to improve the country. Arbitrary example that I would consider should match what most left wing people want – “We are going to build 2, 3, 4, 5 million council houses with gardens front and back. We are going to manage this at all levels. Here is our plan for training schemes for young people, we have identified areas in which we are going to restrict planning permission, we have these quarries from which we are going to extract the material, we have people assigned and responsible for each and every one of these steps. When we are done with this you, your children, and the nation at large will all have more living space each. This is our dream for the country which we invite you to share in.”.
Basically a real vision and aspiration to create a Britain that is noticeably and visibly better than 5 or 10 years ago.
Instead what we get is the weird fence sitting version that achieves nothing – “I’ve appointed a committee to change some rules with the hope that private companies will build some houses, we will abstract the actual requirements away and hope that they can figure it out, by the way they’ll be paying massive taxes on it”.
35 commenti
(Article)
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Cabinet ministers were urged to form a “praetorian guard” around Keir Starmer at a highly charged meeting with the Prime Minister in Downing Street this week.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, called out recent leadership chatter, urging her colleagues to protect the Prime Minister from rebellious Labour MPs who continue to agitate against his leadership. Starmer delivered closing remarks which even his critics around the table described as unexpectedly emotional.
The comments came at a political cabinet meeting, which civil servants do not attend. Labour’s top team held a frank and prolonged discussion about their strategy and the current political situation. Several figures blamed Labour MPs for causing recent difficulties. Alexander called on the cabinet to unite, in what many will see as a pointed message for Wes Streeting, who was also in attendance.
After the discussion, Starmer delivered closing remarks, which some less typically supportive colleagues said they found “uplifting” and “inspiring”, to their admitted surprise.
“Keir summed up, reminding everyone why we’re in politics, why we’re Labour,” one loyalist in attendance said. “It was very emotional, and forthright. Everyone was slightly taken aback to be honest by the passion and fluency of his remarks and what this is all about and why we’re doing it.”
Starmer told colleagues that he was proud to lead the most working-class cabinet in history, and that “we should never forget that most people do not go on the same journey – their voices that should be heard around this cabinet table”.
The Prime Minister also referenced his brother and his sister and said that the government should be fighting every day for the people who have suffered under years of low growth through a lack of opportunities. “It was quite a moment, of the whole team coming together,” one attendee said.
Not everyone was convinced. “I’m afraid there is a ‘steady as she goes’ tendency in parts of the cabinet that are saying ‘keep going’ as the iceberg approaches and are blaming Labour MPs for our problems,” a senior Labour source said. “That the cabinet feels a bit more upbeat is sort of neither here nor there when we are still headed for crashing defeat,” said another.
Starmer and his allies, however, will hope this moment of impressing his often sceptical colleagues is a sign he is turning a corner, as he fights to improve his standing, both in the country and in the eyes of his own party.
What all camps in the Labour party should actually be doing is brainstorming ways and making compromises that would protect the party’s future, because it’s facing an existential question in 2029 and this affects all of them.
If I were Starmer I’d be thinking of ways to improve the party’s media management and spin, ways to take Farage down a peg or two, and for ways to ensure there is a successor in 1-2 years that can provide a genuine reset for the Labour government as the Tories successfully accomplished with Boris Johnson in 2019.
I don’t hate Starmer, or especially dislike him, but if Labour want to have a chance at beating Reform, they are going to need someone with a bit of charisma in charge at some point. I hate that that is the case btw, but he’s just not a great politician and can’t successfully sell ideas to the public.
Even if their policies are starting to have a positive impact and even if that’s reported in the news widely enough for people to hear it (unlikely), the personal dislike that so many people have for him is a dead end for labour.
> Starmer told colleagues that he was proud to lead the most working-class cabinet in history
There isn’t a ‘working class’ in the way people keep pretending there is. A graduate walking into a Big Four job is not working class in any meaningful sense. Someone who has spent years shuffling emails in an office and is now being made redundant is not thinking in class terms either. That label does nothing for them. It doesn’t describe their life, their risks, or their reality anymore.
the halfwits and quarterwits around him know the next lot of elections will be dire, they need the bollard as a lightning rod
they also know none of them would be any more popular
He is just not very good at this.
Labour have a regular problem of choosing the right leader for the last battle. Starmer would have been perfect in 2015 for the Brexit campaign. Corbyn would have been far more appropriate in 2010 to oppose austerity. Miliband would have been a much needed breathe of fresh air in 2007, and Brown would probably have delivered more structural change with Blair’s majority while avoiding getting involved in Iraq.
I just can’t see him winning back the public – far too many errors in the first year and a half of the government. He’s seen as a joke now – listen to The News Quiz or any panel comedy show. The public opinion is so low that they really should consider a new leader. He’s awful at PMQs and frankly nobody knows what he actually stands for.
Substantial youth voters have been lost to The Greens, possibly forever.
What would he do if everything went right? How would Britain change? What is Starmerism?
Realistically, the longer he stays, the more he’s helping Farage.
There are definitely green shoots of things getting better. Immigration is down (if you care about that sort of thing), economy is inching back to normality, foreign policy has been handled well for the most part (he’s dealt with Trump and Ukraine well anyway). I’m not really sure if any other candidates would do any better, and the only two “rock star” candidates are both current mayors so are not eligible as it stands.
Perhaps his MPs could try and support him first before leaping to ousting him. I suspect a lot of these articles are just journalists trying to push a narrative, though.
Does anyone here seriously find Streeting more electable and charismatic than Starmer? Dude is a bit delusional IMO. Andy Burnham I can see as being more widely appealing.
I don’t understand why he gets so much hate, seems to be delivering on key pledges – not all – but nobody’s perfect? I don’t think he’s particularly likable personality wise, at least what we are shown in the media. Come on Labour PR team where are you?
Starmer is just surrounded by a bunch of corrupt idiots who’ve sabotaged him every step of the way.
He’s definitely the best thing about the Labour Party right now, which isn’t saying much but I believe it
Starmer even if can change himself it’s difficult to change the perception of him in the voters minds. Need someone else to inject positivity and convince voters of the new direction.
It makes me laugh how (not even a Labour nor Starmer fan) how folks can’t critically think.
This article is designed to make you feel and think a certain way.
Where is the media a few days ago when London had the lowest murders ever recorded in the last decade??????
Within 18 months of a government Labour has done a lot of good.
It’s just dailyfail and others attacking 24/7.
Starmer has two political parties to contend with.
One is filled with those that created the mess and the other, well, also now filled with those that made the mess.
He may be a decent lawyer, but a bad politician managing a country.
I think they should stop pretending to be socially right wing and focus on shouting about the good work they’ve been doing elsewhere. When people’s lives get better then the culture war stuff will die down and become irrelevant.
They should also stop hammering the middle class and go after proper hoarded wealth.
Starmer could be good if he stop flopping around pretending to please everyone.
Someone with a sense of fucking optimism would be nice. Even when Starmer announces a win (which there have been they are just terrible at promoting them) it still comes across like a loss.
We know everything’s a mess, we know all about the problems we face, we know the world is in a precarious place right now and I get we all need to understand that but how on earth can the country be optimistic for the future if the people running the show don’t believe in it.
Yes, I want competence, yes I want more boring politics with less sleeze but give us something to believe in from someone who actually believes in it themselves.
I mean, who would you replace him with? Wes Streeting? Just replacing a damp cloth with a wet blanket.
Poor ideas, poor advisers, poor front bench, poor personality poor decisions. What’s worth protecting?
I feel like the Starmer hate is a symptom of online echo chamber.
I think he comes across very well in interviews and in diplomatic exchanges, appears competent… whether he is or not is up for debate.
Either Labour will start to be able to show the positive difference they have made and scrape in the next election, or they will need to at least stay credible and get a decent second place ready to step in when Reform implodes. If they start playing the media’s game of musical leadership chairs they will lose more credibility in the long run than keeping someone who isn’t very charismatic. I don’t believe that any of the other candidates will make enough of a difference to not in their turn be undermined.
Pretty hard to protect him when he keeps changing position. I’d be furious if I was a Labour MP who’d gone on TV and repeated the party line around digital ID (know it wouldn’t be popular) to then have the rug pulled from under me
I am so tired of people who care more about staying in power than doing the right thing. Loyalty shouldn’t be a thing at this level, you should feel free to displace someone if they don’t do the right thing.
Labour haven’t got a chance. The damage has been done.
Compared with previous Tory governments Starmer has done a really good job. He has come up with concrete solutions and made genuine attempts to implement them. He’s also willing to listen to public opinion and adjust his policies. I want my PM to be boring and serious about their job. No more charismatic strong man BS.
Ridiculous stuff. He’s a shite career politician, not an endangered wild animal. Jettison him before it’s too late
Anyone who actually believes Farage would be a good PM or make the UK better is deluded.
His plans are ridiculous for a start and he has so corrupt is laughable.
There is concrete proof who he has spoken too, money to Reform from serous right wing parties, he has done 1 single drop in at his Clacton office but STILL people believe him and his total lies.
KS is a crap PM, utter crap. I don’t like him as he hides and won’t make any decision by himself and there is a major issue for me.
Bye bye Keir. I hope someone saves the Labour party and what it used to stand for.
I have never been a fan of Starmer. right from the very beginning when he was Brexit Secretary. But I don’t see anyone who could replace him.
Streeting is the more glib politician but comes across as even less trustworthy. There is also no reason to believe Streeting is better at the wonky side of the job, which actually makes the difference to our country.
Angela Rayner, I think, would be too easily pushed around and in any case the probability of a sexist backlash would be near 100%.
Starmer is boring, but that might be what we need right now.
Hmm lets see what Starmer needs protecting from.
NHS waiting lists down, inflation down, interest rates down, GDP up. Immigration down, deportations up. All without raping public services. Not to mention a more or less spot on foreign policy in a very difficult period.
Things are gradually improving. Any of our “successive” governments over say the last 14 years would be pretty envious.
Now I have an image of them just huddling around Starmer and he’s just squished in the middle.
If there is any justice Keir Starmer will never be able to show his face in public again after he’s out. And I dare say he won’t want to either.
Where you going starm-rat? Monaco? Switzerland?
I’ll take the competence and steady results along with the u turns and fumbles over Nigel ‘pedo praising’ Farage every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
Fire McSweeney for god sake. He is at fault for almost every blunder.
Starmer is a weak, ineffective leader running a party with little or no clue. The fact that his own party thinks he is the best option, which for them he probably is, tells you everything you need to know.
The Tories are just as bad, if not worse. Most of them still don’t understand that they are finished for a generation, as they are no longer the default choice after a poor Labour government has had its term.
We will likely have a Reform government next time, although it will be filled with Tories who have jumped ship once they realise their party’s position has not improved by 2029.
The irony is that Starmer will be the one who puts that government in power.
We desperately need a Prime Minister who shows _leadership_ and actually has conviction and goes for the big wins rather than different forms of managed decline.
Starmer would have such an absolutely easy time on his hands if he had a real mission to improve the country. Arbitrary example that I would consider should match what most left wing people want – “We are going to build 2, 3, 4, 5 million council houses with gardens front and back. We are going to manage this at all levels. Here is our plan for training schemes for young people, we have identified areas in which we are going to restrict planning permission, we have these quarries from which we are going to extract the material, we have people assigned and responsible for each and every one of these steps. When we are done with this you, your children, and the nation at large will all have more living space each. This is our dream for the country which we invite you to share in.”.
Basically a real vision and aspiration to create a Britain that is noticeably and visibly better than 5 or 10 years ago.
Instead what we get is the weird fence sitting version that achieves nothing – “I’ve appointed a committee to change some rules with the hope that private companies will build some houses, we will abstract the actual requirements away and hope that they can figure it out, by the way they’ll be paying massive taxes on it”.