The Fourcast Is Labour’s problem Starmer or something much deeper?
Jan 27, 2026
Liam Thorp, Liverpool Echo political editor with northern voter insight; Kitty Donaldson, i paper chief political commentator on polling and strategy; Paul McNamara, senior political correspondent on Labour dynamics. They debate Starmer’s standing, local visceral dislike, whether Andy Burnham would have helped, potential replacement options, Reform’s rise and May’s tests for both parties.
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Internal Weakness And External Threats
- Labour's problems are both leadership and external events like the economy and Nigel Farage's Reform Party.
- How Labour tackles Reform shapes internal debates about Starmer's future.
Starmer’s Personal Polling Problem
- Keir Starmer polls worse than his party and faces internal plotting over timing for replacement.
- Andy Burnham was the soft-left pick and his block intensified talk of alternatives.
Voters’ Emotional Rejection Of Starmer
- Liam reports strong, almost emotional dislike for Keir Starmer across many traditional Labour areas.
- Voters praise Andy Burnham's relatability and contrast him with Starmer's establishment image.