Desperate to please but pleasing no one, Starmer's latest reset could be his last | John Crace

"Monday's make or break speech was one of Starmer's best. But it was always only going to end in heartbreak because Starmer can't roll back the last two years. He can't stop a leadership race that has in effect already started. Nor can he do anything about the visceral dislike for him that Labour campaigners encountered from voters on the doorstep. Quite why the hatred is so profound is something of a mystery."

"The signs are that most Labour MPs think they've seen enough. That Keir Starmer has run out of road. He certainly seems to be running out of friends. Down to a few ultra-loyalists. And he can't even trust those who want him to stay as they are probably only biding their time until Andy Burnham is in Westminster and can launch a leadership challenge."

"Labour has done some good things in office. Keir isn't venal, like Boris Johnson. He's not deranged, like Liz Truss. And yet many voters can't stand him. It's personal. He gets the blame for everything. Even the things for which he is not responsible. Sometimes politics is just not fair. Then life is often unfair."

"Keir Starmer had come to Coin Street in central London determined to give it his best shot. He wasn't going to die wondering. No jacket, no tie; A look that hoped to say he was both relaxed and up for the fight. His speech came with loads of prompts in the Autocue: strong emotion here, show that you care, pause for emphasis, try to look the audience in the eye. And he just about managed all that."

Keir Starmer’s position appears to be weakening as Labour MPs believe he has run out of road. Support is narrowing to a small group of loyalists, while others who want him to stay may be waiting for Andy Burnham to launch a leadership challenge. A make-or-break speech delivered on Monday is described as one of Starmer’s best, but it cannot undo the last two years or stop a leadership race that has effectively already begun. Voters on doorsteps show visceral dislike, and Starmer is blamed for everything, including matters beyond his responsibility. The situation is framed as unfair, with politics and life both producing outcomes that do not match merit. Starmer’s determined performance is noted, including careful delivery cues, but personality and public perception cannot be changed on demand.

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