Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a wave of criticism just minutes into his interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, as he repeatedly avoided answering a straightforward question about his political standing. The exchange took place on the opening day of Labour’s party conference in Liverpool, where the prime minister was expected to set out his vision amid growing concerns within his party.
Kuenssberg opened the discussion with a blunt question: “How much trouble are you in?” Instead of addressing it directly, Starmer deflected by pointing to Labour’s general election victory. “We won last year in July a mandate to change the country,” he said, before emphasizing that real progress would take time.
Unimpressed, Kuenssberg pressed him again: “How much trouble are you in right now?” The Labour leader repeated his broader message, focusing on long-term goals such as improving living standards, fixing the NHS, and ensuring safer communities.
The BBC presenter then highlighted the growing unease within Labour ranks, noting that many party members arriving in Liverpool were deeply concerned. She asked whether Starmer accepted that he was in political trouble. Starmer again sidestepped, replying that politics always brings commentary about leaders, particularly around major events like party conferences.
Despite Labour’s slump in opinion polls, the prime minister remained on message, insisting he was focused on delivery rather than day-to-day criticism. “I always focus on what it is we are trying to achieve and what we are delivering,” he reiterated.
However, his refusal to answer Kuenssberg’s original question ignited frustration among viewers, many of whom took to social media to voice their anger. Critics described him as evasive, arrogant, and out of touch. One viewer remarked that Starmer “refused even to answer the question ‘how much political trouble are you in?’ which shows the poor advice he gets.” Others accused him of being “so evasive” that it undermined his credibility on live television.
The backlash underscores the pressure facing Starmer as he tries to balance the expectations of his party, the demands of voters, and the scrutiny of the media. With Labour’s poll numbers slipping, critics argue that clearer answers and stronger leadership are urgently needed.
Whether his strategy of focusing on long-term goals rather than immediate political challenges will reassure his party or further frustrate it remains to be seen as the conference continues.
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