The United Kingdom’s Leader of the Opposition, Keir Starmer, has been having a hard time of it lately.
He trails Boris Johnson as preferred Prime Minister; he has had to plead with his own Shadow Cabinet members to stop briefing the press that he is “boring”; other descriptions of him have been “flat”, “weak” and “bland”.
He is also under police investigation for breaching COVID-19 restrictions last year at a curry and beer dinner with colleagues in the run-up to a by-election. If the investigation goes against him he says he will resign.
On the face of it, this is not the kind of publicity Starmer needs at a time when the Government is increasingly seen as floundering and incompetent while it tries to defend two looming by-elections.
However, in the midst of all this, there is another quality that many people see in the Opposition Leader — honesty. Surely this is something that UK politics really needs right now.
Yes, Starmer does face a police investigation, but apart from the rabid right-wing press, most believe it will be seen as a working meal in the midst of legitimate party duties
He has also made a pledge to fall on his sword if the probe finds against him, something that would have been an accepted practice not so long ago before Johnson dictated that ethics and honour should be thrown overboard.
It may be that in comparison to the clownish Prime Minister, Starmer is “boring” and “bland”, but what do the public want – circus performers or hard working politicians and statesmen?
The terrible truth is that many Britons have come to see the activities of their leaders as entertainment, but the humour is beginning to turn dark as inflation soars out of control and 1970s-style industrial action takes hold in the streets.
Johnson’s leadership is failing; all his energies now seem to be directed at holding on to his own well-paid, inflation-proofed job, something that is disgusting significant numbers of his own MPs.
Starmer may not be much fun, but the time for comedy is over.
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