Labour leader Keir Starmer has been slammed for what a top historian describes as the “most inept start” of any UK prime minister in the last 100 years – even compared to Liz Truss’s notoriously chaotic six-week stint.
“Not in 100 years has anyone made such an inept start coming into the (role) with so little idea about what he is doing (and) why he is doing it,” said Sir Anthony Seldon in an interview with Sky News.
Sir Anthony criticised Starmer’s lack of groundwork ahead of taking office, noting he had not consulted former prime ministers, assembled the right team or framed a compelling narrative or purpose.
The former headmaster argued that a strategy built on optimism and economic growth could have undermined Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, urging the prime minister to: “Show people that you are prime minister, show people you’ve got a story, show people things getting better across the whole country with growth and then that will deal with Reform.”
In comparison, he said Truss at least had “a clear plan”.
As Starmer approaches his first anniversary in Downing Street, the PM is under mounting pressure.
On Sunday, he acknowledged he had neglected the brewing rebellion over welfare reforms. His focus had been on foreign affairs — including the G7 and NATO summits, and rising tensions in the Middle East — with welfare taking a back seat until the crisis erupted.
He admitted: “My full attention really bore down” on the benefits changes last week. More than 100 Labour backbenchers rebelled, posing a serious threat to the government’s proposals.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves had hoped to save up to £5 billion a year from these welfare cuts. Now, she may need to look at tax increases this autumn to plug the gap. Despite this, the PM is expected to win a key Commons vote this Tuesday.
Rebel MP Louise Haigh has signalled potential support, stating she will back the plans: “But subject to that detail, I will be supporting the government on Tuesday in recognition that they have made significant progress and that they have protected the incomes of nearly 400,000 disabled people across the country.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed confidence, though he didn’t rule out further compromise, emphasising, “we’ve got to listen”.
Unite union leader Sharon Graham branded the proposals “divisive and sinister”, insisting the government should begin again with welfare reform from scratch.
Adding fuel to the criticism, polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice echoed Sir Anthony, labelling Starmer’s year in office as “the worst start for any newly elected prime minister, Labour or Conservative.”
He pointed out that Labour’s overwhelming victory last summer masked inherent weaknesses: “Labour only won 35% of the vote — the lowest share ever for a majority government. Keir Starmer was never especially popular, and the public still doesn’t know what he stands for.”
Curtice continued: “The only vision he’s really presented is: ‘We’ll fix the problems the Conservatives left us.’ But it’s not clear how he wants to change the country.”
