Today marks the one-year anniversary of Keir Starmer’s Prime Ministership in the UK.
There is a sense that Mr Starmer has had an easy go of it in office, following off the back of the political turmoil Brexit unleashed by the Conservative party.
However, a recent survey by More in Common asked voters to give word responses to the best and worst of what the Labour Party had achieved in the first 12 months in power.
The word ‘clouds’ developed from that, which doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the party’s image among the public.
Journalist and broadcaster with Sky News Adam Boulton told The Anton Savage Show that Mr Starmer won the Prime Ministership in a “loveless landslide”.
“Politically, as far as getting his legislation through, he looked strong, but he never really had much enthusiasm from the electorate,” he said.
“Of course, what has happened since, in the crudest possible terms, is that Reform UK, the party led by Nigel Farage, has offered an alternative to the voters; to both the discredited Conservatives and the incoming Labour government.
“At the moment, in opinion polls, the public are saying, ‘A curse on both your houses’.”
Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage with his party's candidates onstage during a campaign event at Stafford Showground, Stafford, whilst campaigning for this week's local elections. Picture date: Wednesday April 30, 2025. Image: Jacob King / Alamy.According to Mr Bolton, the current Labour government will have to put in a huge amount of effort over the next four years it has left in office to convince the British population that “they are the grown-ups in the room”.
“But that’s a tall order, both because the economic circumstances are tough – and have been made tougher by Donald Trump,” he said.
“And because, within the party, we have this extraordinary scene this week of the Exchequer weeping on the front bench; Rachel Reeves during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“Of course, everyone connected it to the fact that the Government’s economic strategy had just been blown up by its own party and that Rachel Reeves does not have the savings which she needs to avoid putting up tax.”
Mr Bolton said Labour has left itself in a difficult position after running on a campaign that promised not to raise taxes or National Insurance contributions.
Main image: Labour Leader Keir Starmer celebrates winning the 2024 General Election with a speech at Tate Modern on July 05, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil/Getty Images)
