This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Keir Starmer arrives at Downing Street
More Videos
0 seconds of 36 seconds Volume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
Susanna Reid tells Rachel Reeves she’s ‘performed own U-turn’
00:51
twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/OYHmfpe2 Copied
Live
00:00
00:36
00:36
More Videos
Close
Last night was devastating for the Conservatives. No beating around that bush. They lost 250 seats - many that the party have held for nearly a century - and their vote share was down 20%.
I certainly won’t deny that the party in large part wholly deserved this kicking, they shot themselves in the foot so many times they could no longer hobble, let alone walk. But it was nonetheless hard to watch MPs I’ve known for years and who have worked hard for their country ousted by forces largely beyond their control.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
MoneyMade
Horror Stories Of Entitled PeopleMoneyMade Read More
Undo
The party will be waking up with the hangovers of all hangovers this morning, but I suggest that to move on from this, the Tories must do something very painful - and learn from Sir Keir Starmer himself.
There are four key lessons from Sir Keir’s efforts in taking Labour from its worst defeat since 1935, to its best result since 1997.
READ MORE: General Election: Rishi Sunak concedes to Keir Starmer after Labour landslide
Keir Starmer won because he did the hard yards (Image: Getty)
1 - Optimism in the face of defeat
In many ways, Sir Keir Starmer was less of a great political leader (he increased the Labour vote just 1.7% on Jeremy Corbyn’s dire 2019 showing) and more like a very natty financial investor.
Sponsored
Frequent Searches
Frequent SearchesSeniors: New Electric SUVs Come With Tiny Price Tags (Take A Look)
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
What he saw was a party/company that despite appearing in dire straits had in fact bottomed out, and had the potential for a big comeback.
I don’t want to diminish the scale of this morning’s defeat, but I posit the Tories could now be in a similar position.
Their vote share may have collapsed, but a huge swathe of Labour’s new gains have tiny majorities, and a slight uptick next time will lead to many Tory wins.
Despite doomsday predictions, the Tories have won 121 seats, and are 50 seats in the clear of the LibDems as the clear opposition in parliament - something Reform UK’s four-seat taking helps with in terms of media attention.
Sir Keir’s majority is less than Tony Blair in 1997, and a meagre 5% of voters said they were backing Labour because of their policies, versus 48% who said they merely wanted the Conservatives out.
Labour has huge expectations to deliver now, and if Germany, Australia, America and France are anything to go by, centrist and centre-left leaders have repeatedly failed to secure the trust of voters once in office.
In short, a good Tory leader could make the next election much much more competitive than this morning’s results may suggest.
The Tories are in a better position than many polls suggested they would be (Image: Getty)
2 - Change the party
Speaking at his victory rally this morning, Sir Keir repeated the mantra we’ve come to hear so often: that he changed the Labour Party.
He’s right on this. For all his failings, he ruthlessly dispatched the loons - those more interested in protesting than winning elections - and he’s rooted out much of the antisemitism that ran rampant under Jeremy Corbyn.
This must now also be the biggest priority for the next Tory leader.
From staffing, competence and tactical efficiency by their HQ, to the quality of shadow cabinet members, the next Tory leader must be ruthless.
While it’s a problem that didn’t afflict Labour in 2019 - indeed their problem was the opposite - the next party leader must have a mandate to fundamentally reform the party’s constitution and leadership rules.
So much of the Tory vote collapse was down to the chaos of three Prime Ministers in a year, foisted on the country by MPs who became all-obsessed and addicted to never-ending regicide.
While Rishi Sunak eventually got through to a general election, it didn’t stop the media being frequently distracted by speculation over whether his MPs might launch a putsch against him.
The rules need changing to ensure stability in future. It’s beyond the scope of this piece, but I would suggest something along the lines of the threshold for a vote of confidence being raised from 15% of MPs to 50%.
The rules of the 1922 committee must be reformed so they’re not made up on the hoof every leadership election, and the next leader would do well to look to some changes proposed by the Conservative Democratic Organisation regarding party democracy, the power of local associations and members, and candidate selection - the latter of which is something Sir Keir grasped wholeheartedly and is absolutely crucial for the future of the party.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Don't miss...
Tory civil war erupts as senior figure turns on Suella Braverman [LATEST]
Tory chairman Richard Holden holds Essex seat by 20 votes in knife-edge result [LATEST]
Tories projected to get worst result for 200 years - how badly does it compare? [ANALYSIS]
Sir Keir's victory may compare with Tony Blair in 1997, but the foundations are much shakier (Image: Getty)
3 - Quiet competence, not virtue signalling
Whenever Sir Keir was heckled by protesters over the past few years, he had this putdown in his back pocket: “We gave up on being a party of protest five years ago.”
Despite being in power for 14 years, for much of the last five years, the party has felt more like a party of media bigmouths and protestors against the system.
How often did we hear Tory bigwigs and leaders railing against something, only for nothing to change?
Home Secretary after Home Secretary fumed about record-high immigration and did nothing about it.
Minister after minister would rail against ‘woke’, but did the Equality Act ever get abolished or amended? Did it heck. It was government by virtue signalling, not by action.
While the civil service does need major reform to ensure neutrality, the Tories never felt like they worked out how to operate the levers of power effectively.
The party must resist carping on GB News for five years, and ruthlessly focus on quiet, confident competence - and persuading voters that is the case.
Trending
4 - Unfortunately, governments lose elections - opposition parties don’t win them
This will be the bitterest pill to swallow. Because putting all the above to one side, including the optimism that things may not be quite as bad as they look, the reality is they have to pray that Keir Starmer fails.
It’s often been joked over the past few years that Keir Starmer must own an unlimited wish genie. He’s stayed still while the Tory Party collapses around him.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
33 Comments
The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving wipeout
34 Comments
Tony Blair wades in to offer advice to Keir Starmer with 3-point takedown of Reform
1205 Comments
Brexit is now more under threat than ever - Rejoiners are rubbing their hands with glee
145 Comments
Starmer could steamroll through left-wing measures thanks to landslide majority
19 Comments
What is One Nation Conservatism and how could it change the Tory party forever?
5 Comments
Nigel Farage says Tories are already in civil war after election defeat
270 Comments
Nigel Farage pinpoints how long it will take him to enter No10 in bombshell new prediction
238 Comments
How Nigel Farage could become the next leader of the Tory Party
104 Comments
David Cameron set to quit frontline politics again after general election bloodbath
371 Comments
Rishi Sunak resigns as Tory leader after devastating General Election defeat
302 Comments
Lee Anderson says 'I'm back' as he issues major GB News update after election win
243 Comments
The repercussions of this election will be felt from Gaza to Grimsby
45 Comments
Starmer's 'landslide' saw Labour get way less votes than Corbyn's 'worst result ever'
125 Comments
What next for Boris? Who can unite the right and save the Tories now?
132 Comments
'We're coming for you!' Nigel Farage issues Keir Starmer brutal '87 seat' warning
316 Comments
Health Insight Journal
New Edema Device Leaves Experts Speechless (It's Genius!)Health Insight Journal Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
In order to revive the party, the Tories need to appoint this MP as their next leader
32 Comments
General Election hour-by-hour guide shows when YOU can find out your results
31 Comments
King Charles can legally vote in a General Election - but here's why he doesn't
Comments
Keir Starmer's victory speech in full as Labour win by landslide
103 Comments
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
33 Comments
The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving wipeout
34 Comments
Tony Blair wades in to offer advice to Keir Starmer with 3-point takedown of Reform
1205 Comments
Brexit is now more under threat than ever - Rejoiners are rubbing their hands with glee
145 Comments
Starmer could steamroll through left-wing measures thanks to landslide majority
19 Comments
What is One Nation Conservatism and how could it change the Tory party forever?
5 Comments
Nigel Farage says Tories are already in civil war after election defeat
270 Comments
Nigel Farage pinpoints how long it will take him to enter No10 in bombshell new prediction
238 Comments
How Nigel Farage could become the next leader of the Tory Party
104 Comments
David Cameron set to quit frontline politics again after general election bloodbath
371 Comments
Rishi Sunak resigns as Tory leader after devastating General Election defeat
302 Comments
Lee Anderson says 'I'm back' as he issues major GB News update after election win
243 Comments
Beverly Hills MD
Plastic Surgeon Tells: If You Have Wrinkles, Do This Immediately (It's Genius!)Beverly Hills MD Learn more
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
The repercussions of this election will be felt from Gaza to Grimsby
45 Comments
Starmer's 'landslide' saw Labour get way less votes than Corbyn's 'worst result ever'
125 Comments
What next for Boris? Who can unite the right and save the Tories now?
132 Comments
'We're coming for you!' Nigel Farage issues Keir Starmer brutal '87 seat' warning
316 Comments
In order to revive the party, the Tories need to appoint this MP as their next leader
32 Comments
General Election hour-by-hour guide shows when YOU can find out your results
31 Comments
King Charles can legally vote in a General Election - but here's why he doesn't
Comments
Keir Starmer's victory speech in full as Labour win by landslide
103 Comments
World reacts to 'Starmergeddon' as Labour sweeps to crushing victory in UK election
33 Comments
The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving wipeout
34 Comments
Tony Blair wades in to offer advice to Keir Starmer with 3-point takedown of Reform
1205 Comments
Brexit is now more under threat than ever - Rejoiners are rubbing their hands with glee
145 Comments
Starmer could steamroll through left-wing measures thanks to landslide majority
19 Comments
What is One Nation Conservatism and how could it change the Tory party forever?
5 Comments
Nigel Farage says Tories are already in civil war after election defeat
270 Comments
Yes, oppositions must be credible, competent and have popular policies and leadership so as not to scare off voters, but as the eternal adage goes, it’s governments that lose elections, not opposition parties that win them.
The Tories will now experience the ignominy and irrelevance of opposition for the first time in 14 years, and it will be a cold and tough Siberia experience.
They must do the hard yards, as Sir Keir did, but at the end of the day, it’s now all up to him to determine whether we’re back to politics as normal, or whether 2029 is yet another ‘unprecedented’ political event.
Related articles Grant Shapps suffers shock defeat and slams 'endless political soap opera' Nigel Farage finally wins seat in Parliament as Reform claims historic 4 seats Galloway humiliated as he loses seat to Labour just 126 days after by-election Rishi Sunak survives Tory party bloodbath but concedes General Election defeat Keir Starmer makes first speech as PM after Labour's landslide election win