Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
John Crace

Tortured Star Wars gags fail to free Starmer from boredom paradox

Keir Starmer speaking at PMQs.
Starmer missed an early chance to ridicule the prime minister’s explanation for the UK’s slow growth rate. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA

You’d have thought there were worse things to be called than “boring” as leader of the opposition. Especially when so many people in the country identify the prime minister as an amoral, lying chancer. Boring may not be ideal – who wouldn’t prefer to be engaging? – but at least it conveys an air of dependability. Someone who can be trusted to deliver.

But Keir Starmer seems to have taken the description given to him by some of the shadow cabinet to heart and is hell-bent on proving that he is actually very interesting. Which is completely counter-productive. Because he then falls into the boredom paradox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.