One year on, is Starmer still the best man for the job?

Keir Starmer has had the worst first year of any Labour prime minister since 1945 - less impressive, even, than Harold Wilson in his turbulent return to power in 1974.

- ANTHONY SELDON

Starmer's team will dismiss that judgement. But that is precisely the problem: self-denial, defensiveness and an ignorance of history - not least the history of their own party. It points also to Starmer’s ongoing inability to pick the right people to surround himself with in No 10 - people who know how to do their jobs; who know what the prime minister should do; and who understand the system.

Let’s start with the positives. In the first year, he’s shown that he is very bright, hardworking, much better at foreign policy than most anticipated, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure. There have been some successes - school breakfast clubs, cuts in NHS waiting lists, and three trade deals among them. Not a long list, and some are more promises than bankable achievements. But they are not insignificant.

But then, look at the downsides. Economic recovery? Nonexistent. Improvements in public services and illegal immigration? Patchy. Despite enjoying a weak and divided Tory opposition, Starmer has not performed well politically, alienating his own backbenchers, reigniting Corbynism, and doing nothing to quell the rise of Nigel Farage and Reform.