Where did it all go wrong for Sir Keir Starmer?

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When he led Labour to a landslide victory at the general election in July 2024, who could have predicted that, less than two years later, he would be announcing his resignation? Even in this era of unprecedented political churn, in which Downing Street would be better suited to a revolving door instead of its iconic black frontage, his premiership has been remarkably brief. If Starmer is looking for someone to blame for his political demise, he needs only a mirror.

The problem with this Prime Minister is that he fundamentally misdiagnosed the public mood. When he arrived in office, he promised to “end the era of noisy performance” and to lead a government that would “tread more lightly on your lives”.

They were noble sentiments, but completely out of step with what voters yearned for. While no one wanted more of the chaos that characterised the final years of the Tories’ time in office, Britain needed a brave and bold government, not a calm and cautious one.

The country didn’t want a manager, it wanted a leader. It didn’t simply want competent administration, it wanted radical change. Starmer is an intelligent man, but he never grasped this basic truth. What makes it all the more baffling is the extraordinary opportunity presented to him. By winning........

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