Zoe Williams may be right to describe Keir Starmer as a poor politician, but what did we expect (Farewell Keir Starmer, a terrible politician whom we desperately wanted to be something more, 2 September)? After 14 years of economic stagnation and a succession of career politicians as prime minister, we had a leader who previously had a proper job and career outside politics. Starmer’s legacy might be to demonstrate why we need to invest in a better cadre of skilled professional politicians.
Those still pining for Starmer may remind us of achievements such as removing the two-child limit on universal benefit, more free school meals, Best Start family hubs, greater employment rights, increases in the minimum wage, renters’ rights, more GPs, lower waiting lists, the Hillsborough law, better relations with Europe etc. But they shouldn’t bother – no one was listening then, and they certainly aren’t now.
