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The British prime minister gave an impassioned address to try and save his premiership after dire local election results for his ruling Labour Party.
LONDON — Keir Starmer insisted Monday that he’s not going anywhere.
In a forthright speech, delivered against the backdrop of Labour MPs calling for him to exit Downing Street, the British prime minister warned his party that the public wouldn’t reward Labour for switching leaders.
“Like every government, we’ve made mistakes… but we got the big political choices right,” he said.
Starmer is under pressure after Labour lost nearly 1,500 councillors in local elections last week, was ousted from the Welsh Senedd after 27 years and failed to dislodge the SNP in the Scottish parliament.
On early reviews, Starmer’s speech appears to have done little to calm Labour nerves.
Shortly after he finished speaking, Labour MP David Smith called for the “ordered and dignified” departure of the prime minister, warning in an open letter that Labour has “three years to avoid the disaster that the populism of the Right or the left would bring us.”
Another Labour backbencher, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said Starmer looked “panicky and out of his depth.”
“I watched that, thinking of all my constituents who told me on their doorsteps in the last few weeks that he has to go and they won’t vote Labour until he does. There was nothing there for them.”
POLITICO has deciphered Starmer’s key remarks to highlight what the embattled leader is actually trying to tell the public — and more importantly, his rowdy MPs.
‘Dark path’
What he said: “If we don’t get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.”
What he meant: Things could get bad in 2029 — are you really sure you want Nigel Farage in No. 10 Downing Street? And are you really sure that my successor would stop him?
Being radical
What he said:“Like every prime minister, I have learned a lot in the first two years in the job in terms of the policy challenges that our country faces. Incremental change won’t cut it.”
What he meant: The steady-as-he-goes approach is out the window. We can’t just fix the foundations but have to rip them up altogether. Admittedly, it’s something my MPs have told me for a while.
War gaming
What he said: “The Iran war comes on top of all the other crises we faced for 20 years, we have to learn the lesson every single time.”
What he meant: Folks, have you noticed there’s a war on? Kicking me out while there’s such instability in the Middle East might not be the best look.
‘Heart of Europe’
What he said: “The last government was defined by breaking our relationship with Europe. This Labour government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship with Europe, by putting Britain at the heart of Europe, so that we are stronger on the economy, stronger on trade, stronger on defense.”
What he meant: I’ve got to talk about Europe because otherwise Wes Streeting (a possible leadership contender) will — but I can’t really announce anything new without complex negotiations with Brussels. Any time to chat later, Ursula?
What he said: “What I want to do is take a big leap forward with the EU-U.K. summit this year and take us closer, both on trade, the economy, defense and security and that will then be a platform on which we can build as we go forward. And as we do that, I strongly believe we’ve got to turn our back on the arguments of the past, not open old grievances.”
What he meant: I’m not ruling out rejoining the customs union, de facto rejoining the single market … or even rejoining the EU in a future manifesto. I was the shadow Brexit secretary who backed a second referendum, after all.
Man of steel
What he said: “Legislation will be brought forward this week to give the government powers, subject to that public interest test, to take full national ownership of British Steel. Public ownership in the public interest, urgent government on the side of working people, making Britain stronger with the hope of industrial renewal. That is a Labour choice.”
What he meant: Here’s a headline to drown out the leadership chatter. Look at me nationalizing stuff. I’m a proper socialist (with caveats). Go me.
Style over substance
What he said: “Analysis matters, but argument matters more. Evidence matters, but so too does emotion. Stories beat spreadsheets.”
What he meant: I can be less boring and more exciting in the future if you give me a chance. Promise. I’ve even taken my jacket and tie off and rolled up my sleeves to prove it.
What he said: “My late brother Nick spent all his adult life going from one job to the next. The status quo did not work for him. My sister is a carer working long hours on low paid year after year after year. She didn’t even get sick pay in the pandemic. The status quo did not work for her.“
What he meant: Yes, voters rejected us comprehensively last week, but did you know my Dad was a toolmaker? Sure, you’re looking at Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting. But remember — they’re not the only ones with a back story.
Left flank
What he said: “I want to be crystal clear about how we will win it, because we cannot win as a weaker version of Reform or the Greens. We can only win as a stronger version of Labour, a mainstream party of power, not protest.”
What he meant: I’m not going to go all leftie and become Jeremy Corbyn. I’m looking at you, Louise Haigh (ousted transport secretary). And that goes for you too, Maurice Glasman (of Blue Labour and Steve Bannon friendship fame) on Reform.
Oh Andy
What he said: “In relation to Andy Burnham, obviously, any future decision is for the NEC [National Executive Committee]. Andy’s doing a great job as mayor in Manchester.”
What he meant: I’m still making up my mind about letting (potential leadership contender) Andy Burnham become an MP. I might let him come back — remember, I outright blocked him last time as an NEC member? You Burnham fans might not want to pull that trigger right now.
Rayner his parade
What he said: “I spoke to Angela [Rayner] many, many times by the way, in the last few weeks. We are friends. We get on very well, but I’m not going to go through each and every thing that we discussed in those calls.”
What he meant: Angie (another potential leadership contender) and I get on like a house on fire. I’m not going to feed your speculation that she might go over the top — yet.
Farage against the machine.
What he said: “I want to remind you what Nigel Farage said about Brexit. He said it would make us richer. Wrong, it made us poorer … he’s not just a grifter, he is a chancer.”
What he meant: These general election lines should work a treat in three years. The public surely sees through the Reform UK leader … just don’t mention the locals.
Fight on to win
What he said: “I had my doubters who said we couldn’t change this party and make it capable of winning an election, and I proved them wrong. And when we did that, I had my doubters who said, ‘you can’t lead us to a general election victory after the loss in 2019. It was so bad, it’s not possible.’ And I proved them wrong. I’m going to prove them wrong again.”
What he meant: I’m a hard bastard in politics as well as on the football pitch. You’ll have to drag me out kicking and screaming.
What he said: “What we witnessed with the last government was the chaos of constantly changing leaders and it cost this country a huge amount, a huge amount.“
What he meant: Look what happened to Liz Truss. Do you really want that?
Dan Bloom contributed reporting