Best of the Spectator Quite right!: what’s the point of Keir Starmer?
Mar 18, 2026
A lively dive into Keir Starmer’s cautious, process-first leadership and whether that approach is a political weakness. A close look at the Mandelson appointment, briefings and accountability. Debate over Labour’s chances of replacing its leader before an election. A wider chat about political tone, hypocrisy and what purpose a leader’s decency serves.
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Process Driven Leadership Leaves Gaps
- Keir Starmer leads by process and rules rather than decisive personal authority.
- Michael Gove and Madeline Grant argue that Starmer's lawyerly reliance on procedures leaves him absent at crucial moments like the Mandelson appointment.
Reads Files But Avoids Decisions
- Starmer's tendency is to absorb information without issuing clear decisions, contrasting with Rishi Sunak's decisiveness.
- Madeline Grant cites the Sunday Times extract showing Starmer 'paws over' files and says little, outsourcing choices to advisers.
Mandelson Appointment Raised Obvious Red Flags
- The Mandelson appointment showed process couldn't hide risks: outgoing ambassador Dame Karen Pierce and national security advisers raised alarms.
- Madeline and Michael point to widely available concerns and Google-able past sackings that Number 10 ignored.