Starmer’s made ‘most inept start’ of a PM in 100 years

Sir Keir Starmer has made the most inept start of any prime minister in a century, a leading historian has claimed.

- KATE DEVLIN

Sir Anthony Seldon even suggested that Liz Truss, who lasted just six weeks in office before she was ousted by her own MPs, had done a better job than the Labour leader.

“Not in 100 years has anyone made such an inept start coming into the role with so little idea about what he is doing and why he is doing it,” he told Sky News.

He said optimism and a focus on growth could tackle Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. “Show people that you are prime minister, show people you've got a story, show people things getting better across the whole country with growth and then that will deal with Reform.”

He said part of the problem was that Sir Keir entered No 10 without talking to previous PMs, or working out “who he needs to have around him or what his story or his purpose is”.

Asked about Ms Truss, who was famously outlasted by a lettuce, he said “at least Liz Truss had a clear plan”. The judgement comes at a difficult time for the PM, ahead of his first anniversary in the job this week.