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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rowena Mason and Peter Walker

Blockers, checkers, bats and chainsaws: don’t talk like Musk, Starmer is warned

Sir Keir Starmer Donald Trump Elon Musk United States Gus ODonnell Jill Rutter Downing Street Whitehall
Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer’s language has become more forceful in his eight months as prime minister. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images

Keir Starmer has been warned against adopting the language of Elon Musk after railing against “blockers and checkers” and the “flabby” civil service this week.

Gus O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, was one of those urging the prime minister to “get a grip” on his messaging, telling the Institute for Government podcast: “My God, he has mishandled the communications on this terribly.”

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