After a mere 23 months in the top job, Sir Keir Starmer has finally done the deed and quit. After spending years berating the Tories for constantly chopping and changing leader, fighting amongst themselves and looking inwards, Labour has succumbed to the same fate in less than two years.
Against the backdrop of Remaniac campaigner Steve Bray blasting out his EU version of Ode to Joy, the emotional outgoing Prime Minister described how receiving the keys to No.10 was the ‘proudest moment’ of his life. He hailed turning Labour from a ‘morally bankrupt’ cesspit of antisemitism to an electable party. Sir Keir claimed he wanted to ‘change Britian for the better’ into a place where ‘everyone is valued’. Railing off his so-called achievements, the outgoing Labour leader trumpeted lifting the two-child benefit cap – a policy he literally opposed initially – banning social media for teens – another policy he initially was against, improving workers’ rights, introducing new rental reforms and raising wages. Sir Keir’s voice cracked and he started to show a hint of emotion when he spoke about the support of his ‘fantastic wife Vic’ and returning to fatherhood duties following his exit from Downing Street.
The failed Prime Minister said pledged to kickstart a contest for his replacement on July 9, with an ‘orderly handover of power’ to the new leader by September. The timetable means Labour conference is likely to be a festival of Andy Burnham, surrounded by his team of staunch leftwingers who were so critical in organising the coup to take down Sir Keir. If a dirty deal is secured between Wes Streeting and Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield could be in the top job by this time next month. God help us all.
The Prime Minister said:
I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace. Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first, that is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party, I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.
During his grovelling speech, the Prime Minister was flanked by his closest political allies and aides. They included everyone’s favourite human rights crusader, Lord Richard Hermer and the Justice Secretary determined to let out criminals and abolish jury trials, David Lammy.
Of course it’s times like this that the classic adage, be careful what you wish for, comes to Mr S’s mind. While Sir Keir was certainly no friend of growth, business and prosperity, what comes next may not exactly represent a major improvement on those fronts, to say the least.
In the aftermath of the speech, Nigel Farage immediately demanded a general election. The Tories have held off make a similar call for now.
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