My Guy

What goes round . .  Last week Labour launched a new pledge card, echoing the Blair ‘5 pledges’ card of the 1990s—a simple card you can carry in your purse or wallet to check whether the party has kept its promises. A gimmick in other words, since as we know Starmer changes his mind—or lies—whenever it’s deemed necessary. The launch was described as a presidential affair, with Starmer strolling around with his shirt sleeves rolled up. All that was missing were a pair of chinos and perhaps a cashmere jersey loosely hung over his shoulders. PoliticsHome had this:
 
‘A Labour source confirmed that the Starmer-focused, more presidential style was deliberate. “We made a choice to do that," they told PoliticsHome. "People want to hear from someone who is the party leader, who is the candidate to be Prime Minister. He is putting his personal stamp very clearly on these first steps.” They said an accompanying poster campaign prominently featuring Starmer's portrait, which is already being displayed in marginal constituencies, portrays "someone who is ready to serve, his sleeves are rolled up, he wants to get to work for the British people".’

The article suggests there may be risks, mentioning Theresa May’s disastrous presidential campaign of 2017. Starmer’s personal poll ratings are, the report says ‘mediocre.’ What can be done to change the public’s dismissive attitude to our lacklustre future president? Kinnock (with a little help from Mandy) is one to whom we can look for answers, with his abandonment of his comb-over and a party political broadcast which became known as ‘Kinnock—The Movie,’ directed by Hugh Hudson. This perhaps was a key moment of transformation—a departure from the days of oratory in meeting halls (the Welsh Windbag) to a mass media audience. And it didn’t stop there. I have just seen on a re-run Top of the Pops (don’t ask) featuring Tracey Ullman’s 1984 hit ‘My Guy’ which featured Kinnock. What a laugh—or grimace depending on your taste. Who now could burnish Starmer’s star quality with a top ten hit? Madonna? Lady Gaga? Taylor Swift? Or perhaps an artist could be drafted in to do an official portrait (Starmer in Blue could be a companion piece to King Charles in Red). Antony Gormley would be my choice to capture our leader’s essential blandness.