Appointing an amoral narcissist was the PM’s biggest crime, but he was keen to prosecute others in his Commons statement
T
hings could be worse. The prime minister can still catch a break. Some had called Monday’s Commons statement Keir Starmer’s judgment day. But that was a category error. Many Labour MPs had long since made up their minds. Keir wasn’t the right person to be running the country. But it was just that now, with a war in the Middle East and the local elections early next month, was not the right time to think about replacing him. The party and the country wouldn’t thank them for turning a drama into a crisis.
You may also wonder whether the lack of interest in replacing their leader to be found among Labour backbenchers was mirrored by Starmer’s lack of interest in being prime minister. Because it’s increasingly looking as though he often fails to do the basics. I mean, I’m sure he likes being prime minister. When he remembers he is prime minister. We can’t be certain he doesn’t have to be reminded from time to time.
Starmer undeniably does things differently. He may be effective on the international stage but it doesn’t appear to occur to him to ask the questions that any normal person would. Like, did Peter Mandelson pass his security vetting? Now, it may be civil service protocol not to reveal these things, but presumably the prime minister has the highest security clearance of almost anyone in the country.
