Keir Starmer’s Labour government has faced significant challenges since securing a substantial parliamentary majority in the July 2024 general election. Early actions included a speech where the Prime Minister warned that conditions would worsen under his leadership. Subsequent policy efforts, such as proposed cuts to benefits for pensioners and individuals with disabilities, were reversed amid backlash.
Leadership Changes in Number 10
The Prime Minister has replaced key advisors, including Sue Gray, Morgan McSweeney, and Chris Wormald, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary. These shifts aimed to address ongoing issues, though difficulties persist.
The Pivotal May 2025 Speech
A defining incident occurred during a May 2025 address on immigration. Starmer stated that the UK risks turning into “an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.” The phrasing drew comparisons to Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech, where Powell warned of immigrants making British people “strangers in their own country” and referenced a constituent’s fear that “the black man will have the whip hand over the white man.” Powell’s remarks led to his dismissal from the Conservative shadow cabinet.
Prime Minister’s June 2025 Response
In a June 2025 interview with journalist Tom Baldwin, published in The Observer, Starmer distanced himself from the language. He remarked: “I wouldn’t have used those words if I had known they were, or even would be interpreted as an echo of Powell. I had no idea – and my speechwriters didn’t know either.”
This admission raised questions about the Prime Minister’s familiarity with key moments in UK immigration debates and reliance on his team for speech preparation.
Impact on Number 10 Team
Tim Shipman, Political Editor of The Spectator, highlights the fallout in a recent analysis. He notes: “The effect on his staff was profound.” Citing insiders close to Starmer, Shipman adds: “‘Keir basically threw everyone under the bus,’ one says. ‘That really turned things in terms of the internal dynamics. Even people who didn’t like the speech were stunned that he would try to wash his hands of it and hang people out to dry. It also undermined those people with civil servants, who see that the boss won’t back them up.’”
This exchange marked the point when many of Starmer’s closest colleagues lost confidence in his leadership.
