Keir Starmer lost the debate — but he’ll still win the UK election

Watching the end of the TV debate, Rishi Sunak did not give up despite facing possible loss. However, this may not make a significant difference for him.

Keir Starmer is quite clear in his speech, clearly intelligent, and thinks quickly on his feet. | Image taken by Phil Noble, available at Getty Images.

June 27th, 2024 at 12:33 am Central European Time

LONDON — He had prepared thoroughly. It's Keir Starmer, so it was to be expected.

The leader of the Labour Party realized he had to counter Rishi Sunak's criticisms on taxes and immigration, prevent the Prime Minister from constantly interrupting him, and avoid coming across as a "political robot" as one audience member had accused him of in a previous forum.

He made an effort, but unfortunately, Starmer was unsuccessful in the final debate of the UK general election campaign.

It is strange that despite being the frontrunner in the polls, the public doesn't seem to have much enthusiasm for the man who is likely to win by a large margin on July 4th.

In those high-profile situations, you would anticipate someone like Churchill, JFK, and Taylor Swift all combined, rather than a lawyer in his 60s wearing glasses and squinting under the bright lights.

He's not necessarily bad at debate - Starmer is quite clear, clearly intelligent, and able to think on his feet quickly. He's just not particularly skilled at it.

Labour understands this, which is why they rejected the Conservatives' proposal to involve Starmer in regular debates with Sunak during the campaign.

Starmer is aware of this as well. He has mentioned many times how much he dislikes his weekly confrontations with Sunak during prime minister's questions in parliament.

The Conservative party is aware of this as well, and their candidate is not backing down. Sunak entered the debate with a fierce and determined attitude, ready to challenge Starmer and possibly make a significant impact on the current political climate.

The prime minister took action. He appeared confident and energetic, shedding the troubled expression he had been carrying since his controversial choice to depart Normandy prematurely during the D-Day ceremonies, despite the continuing gambling scandal.

Sunak emphasized his point clearly, summarizing in one statement precisely what he hopes voters will consider when casting their ballots on July 4th: “There is an option for every individual, correct. Keir Starmer discusses the need for change, but change cannot occur without a concrete plan for implementation,” he stated.

Next, Starmer repeated his memorable phrase of the evening: "Do not give up." He encouraged voters multiple times not to "give up" on Starmer when it comes to immigration, welfare expenses, and taxes.

At the beginning of their fight, Starmer fought back. The leader of the Labour party understood he couldn't allow Sunak to control the conversation. He made a quick comment about the Prime Minister breaking lockdown rules. Starmer received a positive response when he confronted Sunak for interrupting again, suggesting that if he paid more attention to the people in the audience and throughout the country, he wouldn't be so disconnected.

It seemed like an unexpected and special moment for Starmer when he made that point, but it was short-lived.

Maybe Starmer was afraid of making a mistake that could reduce his 20-point lead in the polls. He seemed restricted by the need to avoid making headlines, so he didn't say much of importance during the 75 minutes they were on stage.

At the conclusion, Sunak likely emerged as the victor in the encounter, although a quick poll taken afterwards indicated that viewers believed it was an even split.

Regardless of the outcome, it is unlikely that the discussion will have a significant impact on the election result. The reality is that the Conservatives have already been defeated and the election is essentially decided.

However, there is a larger issue to consider. While it may have been a smart move strategically, Starmer's decision to avoid drawing too much attention to himself in order to avoid criticism from newspapers left viewers wanting more substance.

Failing to defeat Sunak in a televised debate isn't crucial, but failing to gain the support of the nation could be significant. Starmer, the person presenting himself as a potential leader of the United Kingdom, came across as a polite individual, although somewhat dull and distant. He doesn't reveal much about himself.

Toolmaker Strikes Again!

The Labour leader is often mocked for always bringing up his father's job as a toolmaker to try to appear more relatable. Once, while being questioned on TV, the audience even chuckled at him for it. It was said later that these laughs bothered him, but he didn't let that stop him from sharing the same part of his personal history once more.

Why didn't he come up with a different personal story? Was he stubborn and refused to let the criticism affect him? It's not clear, but that mystery is interesting. British voters don't know much about the man who could become the prime minister next week.

In terms of governing the nation, as Sunak accurately highlights, voters are also unaware of Starmer's plans for the authority he aspires to have.

What plans does he have for taking care of the elderly, supporting struggling public services, reaching net zero emissions without burdening the country with increased taxes, lack of housing, university fees, gender issues, and the numerous challenges of a turbulent world outside of the UK? Not only did the debate fail to provide clarity on these issues, but the entire election campaign has also done little to illuminate these important questions.

In the auditorium at Nottingham Trent University, the two leaders struggled to be heard over the protesters outside. At first, the protesters' shouts were disruptive, but eventually they served as a symbol: Two insignificant figures on a stage, overshadowed by external distractions.