Risky strategy Starmer's moral high ground proves full of pitfalls

There is a theory in British politics, often attributed to Tony Blair, that you need to be careful about throwing a boomerang in opposition, because when you make it to power it could come back and hit you in the face.

- Pippa Crerar

As opposition leader, Keir Starmer became adept at landing blows on the Tories. Over the Partygate scandal in particular, he called for Boris Johnson to quit over his rule-breaking. "You cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker and it's time to pack his bags," he said.

After Durham police launched an investigation into whether he had broken lockdown rules himself over having a beer and curry at a campaign event, he took a huge political gamble and said he would quit if he were found guilty. Luckily for him, he was not.

Since taking power, however, the boomerang appears to have flown back towards the prime minister with a vengeance. Maintaining such levels of probity, not just for himself but for his cabinet, was always going to be an impossible task, especially in the flawed world of politics.