Sir Keir Starmer’s speech at Labour’s annual rally was so Gareth Southgate.
Just like England at Euro 2024 in Germany, the first hour or so was punctuated by moments that captivated the audience but in most cases did not completely enthrall it.
A “homes for heroes” pledge on housing for war veterans, a strong attack on racism, a swipe at populism.
But it was only after around 60 minutes had gone by that the Prime Minister finally delivered the energy, passion and vision to lift up the Labour rally with some much needed hope for a better Britain.
Southgate took about this time, sometimes longer, to eventually put his best team on the pitch with Cole Palmer and other substitutes coming on to dramatically boost England’s performance in several games.
Post-election speeches at party conferences are rarely barnstormers.
After the avalanche of pre-election pledges, some if not many of which will be broken, there’s often little left in the giveaways locker, and even more so with a Budget approaching.
So the expectation was always more on the heavy rhetoric and vision side.
On this, for Arsenal fan Starmer, the minute hand had pretty much gone around the clock before he put the ball in the back of the net.
And didn’t delegates want to hear it when he reeled off how he saw the UK could be in years ahead:
“Millions who feel better off, more money in their pocket to do the things they love, more faith in their public services because once again Labour rebuilt them, an NHS facing the future, more security and dignity at work, town centres thriving, streets safe, borders controlled at last, clean energy harnessed for national renewal, new homes, new towns, new hospitals, roads and schools.....”
And you can’t blame Labour delegates for craving some good news.
After all, the rain had not stopped for at least two days at their conference in Liverpool, or it certainly felt that way.
If the sun had shone, the rally would probably have been an alcohol-fuelled fiesta, with delegates pouring out onto the docks to enjoy the rays.
But the sun did not show up in any meaningful way and delegates, like the rest of the country, have heard endless warnings of difficult decisions ahead, after the axing of winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, and looming tax rises coming in the October 30 Budget.
Hardly the stuff to lift the spirits.
More broadly, beyond the timing, Starmer’s speech was also in many ways Southgate’s managerial style.
No fireworks, no knee-jerk decisions, no obviously impulsive changes.
Instead a careful plan, a long term project, team building, bringing people together.
With both visions delivered by leaders (one ex) seen by many people in the country as decent, measured and thoughtful, even if they do not agree with their policies or tactics.
Southgate tasted success, even if it wasn’t lifting a World or European cup with England.
Starmer has already lifted the political trophy of winning a general election.
Whether he can get back-to-back successes, so elusive for all but the best teams, will depend on whether he can deliver that vision he finally unveiled.
