‘I spoke to Keir Starmer after the management row – and I observed one factor’
Keir Starmer firmly drew a line under questions about his future and said time-wasting rows about leadership were distracting from what matters most – tackling the cost of living
Keir Starmer has had a particularly tough week.
A messy briefing war, which lit a fire under Westminster gossip about his leadership, was the last thing he needed. The Prime Minister was clearly furious at the chaos, and was forced to apologise to Health Secretary Wes Streeting who was in the firing line for the barbs. He firmly drew a line under it on Monday, telling his critics he would lead Labour into the next election and warning that time-wasting on leadership speculation won’t wash with voters.
I have interviewed Starmer many times for the Mirror – in conference centres, loud factories, sitting on tiny chairs in schools and in grand rooms in Downing Street.
I remember speaking to him at the start of the election campaign last year, where he seemed to finally have allowed himself to believe that he might win the keys to No10.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer vows he’ll lead Labour into next election as he slams ‘wasted’ time on rows
That optimism and excitement has faded, ground down by lagging poll ratings, restive MPs and the gruelling business of governing. But what remains is what got him here in the first place – steely determination.
Mr Starmer’s resolve to deliver on making life better for working people has only been strengthened by the turbulence of recent days.
He was explicit that he wants people to be – and to feel – better off on his watch, and that he will be judged on that. And he is right that tackling the cost of living is absolutely critical, both morally and politically.
The economy has long been at the top of voters’ priorities. Concerns about immigration have soared but the issue has not eclipsed people’s fears about making ends meet. For some, anti-immigrant sentiment is fuelled by feelings of scarcity, and of unfairness.
Both issues must be tackled and the PM knows that. It is clear that he is aware of the scale of the challenge to fix the country after years of Tory neglect.
But a week is a long time in politics, as another Labour PM, Harold Wilson once said. The PM will be hoping that time is on his side.
