Keir Starmer has made his first big mistake as Prime Minister. In abandoning his plans for a summer holiday, he has given in to the cretinous columnists and commentators who created a series of headlines during the recent racist riots suggesting that it would be a dereliction of duty if the new man in number ten was to take a break with his family.
Chief among those calling on Starmer to unpack his suitcases was Boris Johnson – the guy who missed THREE Cobra meetings in the run-up to the pandemic in order to top-up his pinkish tan on his chums’ yacht back in 2020.
Starmer has had a relentless schedule since the turn of the year. Always on election-footing during that time, he was travelling the country and campaigning for seven months, holding the government to account as Leader of the Opposition, and then found himself dealing with a baptism of fire once taking over as PM in July.
From saying that he wanted to carve out some time every Friday evening to spend with his wife and kids, he has succumbed to political pressure and forgotten about his personal wellbeing and responsibilities.
Ironically, during the same week that he decided to forgo his vacation in Europe, Starmer was advocating the virtues of working from home. I would remind Keir that as Prime Minister, he has access to a mobile phone, a laptop, Zoom, Teams too – and if necessary, a private plane to get him back home if a genuine national emergency broke out. He also has a very capable Deputy Prime Minister in Angela Rayner, and chief of staff in Sue Gray.
Everybody needs a holiday. No one more so than the leader of our country. I would rather have a well-rested, sharp, and energised PM, than someone who is permanently knackered.
There will always be reasons for Keir not to go on holiday. In making the decision he has; it creates potential problems for him in the future too.
I hope that his wife Victoria has given him a good rollocking – and that next year he remembers that nobody is indispensable in their job – not even Prime Minister’s – but all families need a break from time to time.
