"Untested" Keir Starmer Is Ready For The "Presidential" Spotlight

Labour's decision to put Keir Starmer at the centre of a presidential-style campaign reflects the party's growing confidence as the general election grows nearer, but this strategy is not without serious risks.

This week saw the long, unofficial general election campaign step up another gear, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer delivering speeches in London and Essex respectively. With Labour consistently far ahead in the polls, Starmer is widely expected to enter Downing Street later this year.

In Essex, a tie-less Starmer strolled around the Backstage Centre studio with his sleeves up and his entire Shadow Cabinet assembled behind him to set out his "first steps" if elected to No 10, echoing former US president Barack Obama and ex-Conservative prime minister David Cameron's styles of campaigning. The Tories, meanwhile, chose to spotlight the Labour leader specifically in Sunak's attack lines. 

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".

But the biggest challenge for Labour now is whether Starmer alone is up to the scrutiny of an election campaign, and if Labour as a whole can get behind it enough to convince people to vote for him. 

While Labour has enjoyed large,