Keir's fear is no joke for voters

THE JOKE reportedly doing the rounds in Liverpool after Sir Keir Starmer's conference speech there went pretty much along these lines.

- 

"I think I'll go to Reform's conference next year. At least they won't keep banging on about Nigel Farage."

Don't get me wrong. I'm no Farage fan. But I think it was a huge tactical mistake for the PM to make so much of his speech about the Reform leader.

For a start it made him look frightened of him. Yes, Farage and Reform UK were the twin-tusked elephants in the room, but Starmer gave them way too much acknowledgement and space. His attitude should have been more: "Who are these pygmies snapping at my heels?" and less: "Aargh! Look everyone! Monsters!"