Starmer’s one talent: alienating everyone!

JVL Introduction

Why is Starmer so unpopular? Let me (or rather Nesrine Malik) count the ways. From Gaza, to benefits cuts, to cruel immigration policies and appointing Mandelson to the US Ambassador role to taking handouts from wealthy backers  – and much more.  Who remembers his election campaign competence claims? Where are they now?  So he traded on not having a vision other than rescuing Britain from years of Tory incompetence but now there is chaos and numerous U turns and still no vision that could inspire.  We are not surprised but it is a shocking state of affairs and mainly of his own making – well Starmer and those who propelled him into power under McSweeney.

Even now we hear all too often of the “historic and monumental Labour victory” in 2024 with few noting that this was one of the lowest ever votes for Labour; numerically significantly fewer votes and percentage share than under Corbyn in 2017 and fewer votes and a very marginal improvement in the percentage of the vote. The 2024 election was won very much on Tory voters staying at home or voting for Reform, thereby splitting the vote.

Schadenfreude is justified but will not help make the changes we so desperately need as one of the worst things that Labour is doing is trying to out Reform Reform on some issues.  People attracted by those ideas will not be convinced and, meanwhile Starmer (and all those with him) will continue to alienate those whose first concerns are justice, equality and treansparency.

LL

This article was originally published by The Guardian on Mon 16 Feb 2026. Read the original here.