Is Starmer finally getting to grips with being PM?
Mar 13, 2025
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David Blunkett, former Labour cabinet minister and political veteran, offers his insights on Keir Starmer's recent diplomatic successes and leadership style. He discusses the government's welfare cuts and draws lessons from Alastair Campbell on effective communication. Meanwhile, Anna Foster, the new BBC Radio 4 presenter, reflects on her career journey, the importance of community engagement, and the evolving landscape of journalism. Together, they highlight the urgent challenges of youth unemployment and the need for coherent policies in today's fragmented society.
Keir Starmer's diplomatic actions have improved his poll ratings, highlighting his potential to regain political support despite previous challenges.
David Blunkett emphasizes the need for Starmer to articulate a clear vision for the Labour Party beyond opposing past administrations.
The urgent crisis of youth unemployment necessitates strategic government investment in job creation and skills development to prevent long-term societal issues.
Deep dives
Keir Starmer's Diplomatic Progress
Keir Starmer has recently gained recognition for his diplomatic efforts, particularly in bridging relationships between President Trump and Ukraine's European allies. These actions have resulted in increased poll ratings for Starmer, demonstrating a potential improvement in his political standing, albeit from a low baseline. Critics question whether this foreign policy success will translate into domestic political advantages as he prepares to navigate significant challenges back home. The focus is now on whether Starmer can leverage this momentum to address pressing issues as the government faces decisions regarding welfare cuts and civil service reforms.
Assessing Leadership and Communication
David Blunkett offers an insightful evaluation of Starmer's first months as Prime Minister, suggesting that his ability shone during crises, which highlighted his decisiveness and political mastery. However, there are concerns regarding the clarity of the political narrative Starmer is presenting to the public about his government's objectives. The discussion raises whether Starmer's initial campaign focused too much on opposing former Prime Minister Liz Truss's chaotic administration without defining a coherent vision for the Labour Party's future. As Starmer's administration continues, the emphasis must shift towards developing comprehensive policies that convey a clear mission to the electorate.
Defining Starmerism and Its Ambitions
Starmerism is characterized as a vision rooted in decency, aiming for national confidence and empowerment in both domestic and international contexts. Blunkett emphasizes the necessity for Starmer to push for significant structural changes rather than superficial reforms to address complex societal problems. He argues that confronting pressing issues like antisocial behavior and economic revitalization requires a cohesive strategy from all government departments. The potential consequences of a failure to implement these changes could result in the rise of far-right ideologies offering simplistic solutions to complicated challenges.
The Crisis of Youth Employment
A growing crisis surrounding youth employment is highlighted, with nearly a million individuals aged 16 to 24 currently disengaged from education or work. Blunkett reflects on his time in government when efforts were made to significantly reduce youth unemployment by collaborating with businesses and mobilizing resources effectively. The discussion underscores the urgent need for investment in young people to prevent a lost generation and bolster societal well-being. Blunkett calls for a robust strategic overhaul rather than minor adjustments to address the rapid increase in youth welfare claims and disconnection from the workforce.
Navigating the Landscape of Welfare Reform
The upcoming welfare reform plans are viewed critically, with concerns about the rising costs associated with supporting a growing number of individuals reliant on assistance. Blunkett underscores the moral obligation to differentiate between those who genuinely cannot work due to severe circumstances and others who may benefit from employment opportunities. The discussion emphasizes the need to shift fiscal policies to prioritize investment in job creation and skills development for young people. He argues that a proactive approach is necessary to address the challenges while avoiding excessive reliance on welfare, which may lead to long-term societal issues.
Voters seem to be giving Keir Starmer a bit of credit for the role he has been playing on the world stage, so is it a sign that the prime minister is getting better at politics?
Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Blunkett tells Amol what he makes of the prime minister’s recent performance, why he thinks the government is right to cut the welfare budget and what lessons it could learn from Alastair Campbell about spin (2:15).
Amol also talks to Anna Foster after it was announced that she will be joining Today as one of its main presenters (36:22).
To get Amol and Nick's take on the biggest stories and insights from behind the scenes at the UK's most influential radio news programme make sure you hit subscribe on BBC Sounds. That way you’ll get an alert every time they release a new episode.
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The Today Podcast is hosted by Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson who are both presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Amol was the BBC’s media editor for six years and is the former editor of the Independent, he’s also the current presenter of University Challenge. Nick has presented the Today programme since 2015, he was the BBC’s political editor for ten years before that and also previously worked as ITV’s political editor.
This episode was made by Lewis Vickers with Izzy Rowley and Grace Reeve. Digital production was by Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Jonny Baker. The editor is Louisa Lewis. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.
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