The Daily Star is trying to get more ‘likes’ on a TikTok video of a lettuce than the first one on Sir Keir Starmer’s new account to prove it can outperform him
The Daily Star’s plucky lettuce has bravely gone head-to-head with Sir Keir Starmer in a battle for TikTok views.
We’re trying to garner more ‘likes’ on a video of the green salad staple on our official account than the first video on his profile to prove it’s more popular than him. It comes after he was mocked for becoming the first PM to join the social media site. Critics branded the move “cringe” and desperate”.
We’re now urging our readers and followers to “help the lettuce beat Keir Starmer” to show that his salad days truly are over. Our bid for glory states: “Keir Starmer has only gone and done it.
“He’s the first PM to launch a TikTok account and now we want to one up him. Like this video, and prove that even a lettuce can outperform him.”
Watch the video below:
It’s a nod to our famous livestreamed stunt to see which would last longer – a 60p iceberg lettuce from Tesco or Liz Truss during her tenure in Downing Street. In the end, the vegetable won when she quit after just 49 days in office, making her the shortest-serving British PM in history.
Sir Keir, who’s desperately trying to reach younger audiences, shared his first update from the Downing Street Christmas lights switch-on. But social media users were left scratching their heads as TikTok is banned on most government devices because of major security concerns about its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
One wrote X: “I’m sure he’ll gain support through his exciting speeches, charisma, and sharp wit.”
Number 10 has insisted that “security mitigations” are in place for the account. His spokesman said: “We are intent on reaching audiences where they are.
“Communication is changing and people have a right to know about the decisions the Government is taking that affect them and why and how that is. TikTok is simply another way to do that and reach that wider audience.”
Daily Star social video reporter Jessica Fitch had this to say about Sir Keir’s TikTok account…
I wasn’t expecting anything special when I heard our PM had launched himself on TikTok – and I was right. Now, having watched all 13 miserable seconds of it, it’s clear it’s simply a desperate plea for more followers and very, very disappointing.
To say it’s a half-arsed attempt at a TikTok video is understatement of the year. The footage was filmed a week ago and does not scream strong social media skills.
And if this aimed at winning over Gen Z a glance at the scores of negative comments would suggest football fan Keir has scored an embarrassing own goal.
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