The Sunday Times has been a leader of the media pack hunting Keir Starmer, but they had a 'wait a minute' moment at the end of their editorial yesterday as they realised that Starmer might be replaced by someone to the left who would be more harmful to the wealthy interests they seek to defend.
I have never really understood why Starmer is so unpopular, but I suppose that reflects my disconnect with the people I live among.
Given the dangerous international situation, which Starmer has handled rather well, the last thing we need now as a country is the psychodrama of a leadership contest. Starmer would not go without a fight, but even if he was re-elected, his authority would be in tatters.
As a Labour Party member, I don't find any of the options very appealing:
- Wes Streeting, competent, but too Blairite even for me
- Angela Rayner, emotionally intelligent, but would find the role challenging
- Andy Burnham, least unpopular with voters and most likely to win in the autumn, in my view a power hungry opportunist.
- Ed Miliband, popular with Labour members, I have sat next to him at dinner and found him likeable, but voters see him as weird. Could become Chancellor.
- Yvette Cooper, never mentioned, probably seen as not assertive enough and it's all Balls.
