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Still has to grow into his position: Keir Starmer. © AFP
The first 100 days of British Prime Minister Starmer: good intentions, technical errors.
Things can only get better” – the Labor election campaign song from 1997 expresses the hope of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the end of the first 100 days of his government this Saturday. Serious technical errors, wrong personnel decisions and an unclear communication strategy have marred the current tenure in Downing Street.
The new man has at least succeeded in reorienting foreign and European policy. Starmer made himself acquainted with his closest allies at summits and also traveled to Brussels for the first time at the beginning of the month to meet EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. The new friendliness between the Brexit island and the continent must now be followed by concrete steps, warn diplomats in London.
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Comment: Total failure at Labor
The head of the Europe-friendly Liberal Democrats put his finger in a wound in the House of Commons: Edward Davey innocently asked whether Labor wanted to create more opportunities for young Brits to interact with Danes, Germans and Spaniards of the same age. This is exactly one of the EU’s core demands: young people under 30 should be able to live and work in the respective partner countries for two to three years without having to deal with extensive bureaucracy and expensive visa and health fees, as has been the case since the Kingdom’s withdrawal. Labor has so far rejected all advances out of fear of more immigrants; the topic has great potential for conflict.
As far as political opponents go, Keir is very lucky. As opposition leader, Starmer’s reputation grew because he provided the boring counterpart to the constant turbulence of the conservative heads of government Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. The Tories, who have been brutally decimated in parliament, have still not decided on his successor. After long elimination rounds, there is now a duel between two mediocre former ministers, both on the far right wing of the party. It is already clear that the largest opposition party is retreating into the comfort zone of ideological certainty. Labor pranksters are already joking: “Do we have to officially declare this election a gift?”
In the English local elections next May, however, there is a threat from the far right from Nigel Farage’s party. In this first mood test for the new government, the Liberal Democrats also want to the Greens Win mandates.
Labour: Serious mistakes in dealing with the media
Who should prevent this? The key figure in Starmer’s environment since last Sunday has been former campaign manager Morgan McSweeney. As chief of staff, the Irish-born man, 47, replaced former top official Sue Gray, whose three months in office for Starmer consisted of a succession of failures. Gray’s appointment was seen as a symbol of the more ethical approach to politics that Starmer likes to preach.
But does he also practice it? In this regard, the ex-public prosecutor has long had ugly stains on his suit; for weeks, five-figure sums with which the opposition leader had bought designer suits and glasses, sponsored by a colorful businessman and Labor lord, were circulating in the media. Starmer’s popularity ratings are now worse than those of Nigel Farage, who is hated by large parts of the population.
McSweeney demonstratively brought two party officials with him to his first meeting with all ministerial advisers. He also has a new department for “strategic communications” to help him. The serious technical errors in dealing with the media should be a thing of the past in the future.
Does that also apply to the core topic? Starmer has promised growth through state and private investment. Instead, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves shocked the public at the end of July by claiming that there was a £22bn hole in the national treasury that needed to be filled. First, it cut the heating subsidy for millions of pensioners without simultaneously pointing out that pensions would rise by a larger amount this autumn. She also announced higher taxes. The result was that the Brits, who were otherwise always happy to spend, cut back on consumption.
Poor pensioners are now being targeted and made aware of existing additional support; Reeves also wants to invest money in public infrastructure. Instead of doom and gloom, economic optimism is the order of the day.
This Monday, a meeting between government leaders and important business people, led by ex-Google boss Eric Schmidt, is expected to encourage private companies to invest more on the island.
