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Sir Keir Starmer’s war on bullying

Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images

It seems these days that the blessed Starmer can do no wrong. Cruising in the polls, fêted by his party, the Labour leader has become the toast of the media with election victory now seeming assured. But is Sir Keir all that he appears? The Labour leader opted to lead on the allegations against Gavin Williamson at PMQs yesterday, calling him a ‘sad middle manager’ and a ‘cartoon bully.’ It came hours after Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell told BBC Breakfast:

I think the issue here is how you deal with it as a leader. Whenever there’s even an allegation in the Labour party, that MP in question loses the Labour whip. Keir takes those issues incredibly seriously. He acts very, very quickly.

Losing the whip at the mere allegation of bullying? It’s a jolly good thing then that Jeremy Corbyn – who still remains a Labour member – decided not to put in a complaint of bullying against party golden boy Wes Streeting after he was overheard in parliament describing

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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