Why Starmer’s lack of vision might not matter

Tradition dictates married couples receive gifts made of leather on the third anniversary of their union. Labour leader Keir Starmer – whose party enjoys a sustained 15-20 per cent poll lead over the Conservatives – has marked his third anniversary in office this week by receiving an old-fashioned leathering in the press.

‘His party remains a mystery to voters’, according to the Guardian, which chose his anniversary to issue one of its regular ex-cathedras criticising Starmer for his dullness, lack of ambition and the absence of the ‘vision thing’. The paper was not alone: the Times revealed that nearly half of voters were not sure what Starmer stood for, while the Evening Standard published findings that showed he was only level-pegging with Rishi Sunak.

Starmer’s supporters suggest that his failure to make an impact on voters is partly due to the uniquely hostile media landscape within which Labour now operates. There is no chance, they say, of Starmer making the kind of deal Tony Blair made with Rupert Murdoch that turned the Sun temporarily into his personal propaganda arm.