The Only Way Is… desperation: Now floundering Starmer appears on TOWIE star Pete Wicks’ podcast in bid to woo influencer vote, as he vows to lead Labour into next election despite dire polls
Keir Starmer interviewed reality TV star Pete Wicks as he desperately searches for ways to revive his political fortunes.
The Prime Minister makes an appearance on The Only Way is Essex graduate’s podcast Man Made, which is billed as deeply personal.
The pair discuss the death of Sir Keir’s brother in the show, which focuses on modern masculinity and men’s mental health.
Downing Street is looking to get back on track after a difficult first 16 months in power, with speculation mounting about Sir Keir’s position.
Labor is targeting influencers and podcasters in a bid to deliver more positive messages to the public. In a recent speech by Rachel Reeves, the front row seats were reserved for ‘content creators’.
The strategy echoes Ed Miliband’s approach during the disastrous 2015 election campaign, when he appeared on comedian Russell Brand’s YouTube show to encourage people to vote.
The sense of turmoil at the heart of the government has grown after last week’s extraordinary briefing operation against Sir Keir’s Cabinet rivals backfired.
Recorded at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister explains his views on the biggest challenges facing young men today
The Prime Minister was forced to defend his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney when Health Secretary Wes Streeting publicly attacked No10’s ‘toxic culture’ and ‘self-destruction’.
It was later revealed that the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves had made a messy U-turn on plans to raise income tax in the Budget, despite weeks of obvious hints.
A YouGov poll found that 23 per cent of Labor supporters think the party leader should resign and choose someone else.
22 percent believe that he should give up his position before the next election.
Only a third, 34 per cent, said he should continue to lead Labor into the contest.
Sir Keir made another attempt to strengthen his position in an interview with The Mirror today.
Asked if he would lead Labor at the next election, he said: ‘Yes, I will. Let me be really clear; Every minute not spent talking and dealing with the cost of living is a minute wasted in terms of the political work of this Government.
‘This is my response to last week. I am fully focused on what is most important to me, which is reducing the cost of living and making people feel better about themselves.
‘I’m conscious that people want to have more money in their pockets to get ahead in life, to get ahead, to do the things that are important to them.’
The conversation with Pete Wicks was recorded at 10 Downing Street and will be published on Friday as part of Men’s Mental Health Month.
The Prime Minister is said to be expressing his views on the challenges faced by young men today.
He also explains how his perspective on masculinity changed after becoming a father and explains how he coped with the tragic loss of his brother Nick.
Keir, whose brother died aged 60 on Boxing Day, describes being there for him when he received his cancer diagnosis and balancing his duties at No10 with personal pain.
