What exactly are the rules in politics? Let’s set aside the ongoing debate about Keir Starmer’s political future, a topic that seems to be an exercise in futility. The upcoming Gorton by-election and local elections are expected to provide clear evidence of this.
Instead, let’s delve into a more pressing issue that has surfaced following a week marked by the complete collapse of Starmer’s authority and leadership. This issue revolves around principles that have, until now, been largely overlooked. Specifically, the core values of honesty, integrity, and transparency that, according to Starmer himself, are supposed to be the new cornerstones of our national governance.
Upon his election, Starmer addressed the nation, promising to lead ‘a government of service.’ He emphasized that his administration’s primary goal would be to ‘restore respect to politics.’
Starmer acknowledged that when the disparity between the sacrifices made by the public and the service they receive from politicians becomes too vast, it breeds a sense of disillusionment within the nation.
Now, let’s examine three incidents from the past week in light of these statements. First, there was Starmer’s ongoing effort to distance himself from the controversy surrounding his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the ambassador to Washington. This decision came despite Starmer’s own admission that he knew Mandelson had connections with Jeffrey Epstein, one of the world’s most notorious sex offenders.
The second incident involved Starmer’s delayed move to strip Matthew Doyle, his former communications director, of the Labour whip after appointing him to the House of Lords. This decision was made even though Starmer was aware that Doyle had connections with an individual charged and later proven guilty of possessing indecent images of children.
When Starmer was elected, he pledged he would lead ‘a government of service’ with the primary mission to ‘restore respect to politics’
Sir Keir has attempted to insulate himself from the crisis over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador
The third was the news he had summarily ousted his Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, and replaced him with Home Office Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo. Even though Romeo is the subject of serious allegations of bullying and misuse of taxpayers’ money from her time at the Foreign Office, and multiple Civil Service sources claimed those allegations have not been properly investigated.
So, as I say, what are the rules? When Starmer was elected, they appeared clear. Probity in public office had been grotesquely perverted under Boris Johnson, he charged. So restoring the highest standards of honesty, humility and transparency represented his driving mission.
Without this, there was no hope of delivering the change Britain longed for, he insisted. Then, last week, all that suddenly changed. Even highlighting these issues had in itself suddenly become a dereliction of public duty.
Starmer’s allies began berating the media – the BBC in particular – for focusing on Mandelson rather than the Government’s policy agenda.
On Wednesday I was chided by a minister for my own part in focusing on Westminster intrigue rather than the Government’s achievements. So this appears to be the new rule. Or the Starmer Rule, if you like.
Under the Tories, breaches of standards in public office went to the heart of their mismanagement of the nation. But under him, they are of secondary importance. Not to be confused with the serious business of establishing breakfast clubs and preventing teenagers from accessing TikTok.
Then there are the rules surrounding ministerial responsibility. Prior to last week, Starmer was again clear.
During the Labour leadership election he piously demanded: ‘Hear me out! I had 8,000 staff for five years as the Director of Public Prosecutions… when they made mistakes, I carried the can. I never turn on my staff, and you should never turn on your staff.’
Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald was ousted from his post and replaced by Home Office Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo despite her being the subject of serious allegations
Starmer’s allies began berating the media – the BBC in particular – for focusing on Mandelson
It was a theme he repeatedly pressed, to devastating effect, against Johnson and his Cabinet through the Covid crisis and beyond. ‘It’s no good the Prime Minister flailing around, trying to blame others. It’s time he took responsibility for his own failures,’ he railed repeatedly.
Yet, in the past week, this rule has also now been inverted.
He has turned on – and turfed out – every one of his most senior officials. His chief of staff. His director of communications. His Cabinet Secretary.
As another senior government official told me: ‘I struggle to think of a PM more willing to throw under the bus those who have been loyal to him.’
So this is the other new Starmer Rule. The buck should have stopped with Boris Johnson. But there is no need for it to even pause for breath when it’s in the vicinity of himself.
Then there are the rules on due political process. As a former DPP, Sir Keir was once a stickler for these. When an internal investigation found Priti Patel was guilty of bullying as Home Secretary, but Boris Johnson stood by her, Starmer turned on him.
‘The Prime Minister has previously said he loathes bullying. Yet when one of his own ministers is found to have bullied their staff he ignores the damning report sat on his desk and instead protects them,’ he raged.
But in the past week this rule has also gone out of the window. His choice for Cabinet Secretary faces her own serious allegations of bullying. Numerous sources say she has not even been properly investigated over those claims.
The new Starmer Rule? Due process no longer matters. Parachute her into the most senior job in the Civil Service regardless.
This is the reality.
For all Labour’s grandiloquent talk of ‘change’, nothing has actually changed. The rules of the game under Starmer are the same as those that existed under Boris Johnson, and every one of their predecessors.
Rule One. Not getting caught in a lie is the same as telling the truth. Rule Two. If you do get caught, never, ever take responsibility yourself. Find someone else to take the fall. Rule Three. When political expedience dictates, ensure there are no rules.
Maybe there was a time when Keir Starmer genuinely believed he would be different. Perhaps when he stood on the steps of Downing Street that first morning, he might have convinced himself he really would transform the culture of British politics.
But now he, just like everyone else in the country, knows the truth. Which is that when it comes to the crunch, the rules governing the Starmer premiership are as duplicitous and hypocritical and mendacious and self-serving as they always were.
The transactional attitude to abuse and bullying. The appropriation of the word ‘responsibility’ as a soundbite, rather than a credo.
The morality of self-interest dictating political ends can justify any malign means.
For years the voters have complained ‘they’re all the same’.
Last week Keir Starmer proved they are right.
