Is Tony Blair right to say Starmer has no coherent plan?

Is Tony Blair right to say Starmer has no coherent plan?

From Mark and Pete by Mark and Pete

June 8, 2026 · 14 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Tony Blair's criticism of Keir Starmer's Labour government and the perceived lack of a coherent plan.

Tony Blair has accused Keir Starmer’s Labour government of lacking a coherent plan, which is a little like being told your sermon has no structure by a man who once preached for three hours and then invaded the notices. In this episode of Mark and Pete, we look at Tony Blair’s criticism of Keir Starmer, the growing sense of drift around the Labour government, and the uncomfortable question now hanging over British politics: is Starmer doing less harm because he is cautious, or more harm because he appears to have no real vision at all? Blair says successful governments need an idea, a project, a governing purpose, an analysis of what is wrong, and a plan to put it right. Which sounds basic, really. Almost rude in its simplicity. Like telling a pilot that the plane ought to have wings. Yet that is exactly the charge: Britain has problems everywhere, from the economy and NHS to immigration, housing, taxation, public services and national morale, but the government often feels less like leadership and more like a damp spreadsheet being slowly explained by a committee. We discuss whether Starmer is the worst prime minister in history, or merely one of the greyest. Polling has been…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mark, Pete

Topics covered

  • politics
  • Labour government
  • Tony Blair
  • Keir Starmer
  • government criticism
  • British politics

Keywords

  • Tony Blair
  • Keir Starmer
  • Labour government
  • political criticism
  • British politics
  • government plan

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour government, NHS

Places: Britain

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