The article argues that Keir Starmer, as the new Labour leader, needs to learn from his mistakes and develop a clear narrative for his government, rather than relying solely on past victories like Boris Johnson's. It draws parallels with past prime ministers who faced similar challenges early in their terms, highlighting the importance of strategic thinking and reflection for successful leadership.
Successful PMs learn on the job, and Labour’s leader needs to start 2025 by showing his party and the country he has done so. The dismissive verdicts and dire polls after Keir Starmer ’s first few months in power should not unduly perturb him. Britain’s best prime minister s all faced considerable challenges, especially early on.
Clement Attlee may rank as Labour’s most outstanding leader, but his position was far from secure at the time and he would have been ousted early but for the loyal support of the foreign secretary, Ernest Bevin. Margaret Thatcher endured many dark weeks and months, only feeling confident of her position after victory in the Falklands war, three years into her premiership. The end of year verdicts on Starmer’s premiership have highlighted his errors and the bad economic news, but they have precious little positive to offer beyond “he must find a narrative”. Like Boris Johnson, who became leader from 2020, he took a series of unpopular decisions and faced endless criticism, but he prevailed and won one of the biggest majorities in history. On the same basis, he thinks that tough medicine from him now will see the party rewarded with another handsome majority in 2028 or 2029. It’s neat. It’s compelling. But it’s a fantasy – and a dangerous misunderstanding of the kind of narrative a PM needs. If Starmer continues to hold to it he will fall, and Britain will notch up another failed premiership when what it needs most is competent government. Prime ministers lack the time for reflection. All the PMs I have written about regret the lack of time spent thinking through what they were trying to achieve. They repeatedly sacrificed strategy to urgency, the mantra to the media. Only in hindsight do they see this clearly. So what should Starmer do? He could start by using the few days left before the heat of the political battle reignites to reflect more on the past year. No previous experience can prepare a prime minister for life in Downing Stree
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