On Politics: Keir Starmer’s Mess

On Politics: Keir Starmer’s Mess

From The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

March 12, 2026 · 1h 12m

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges faced by Keir Starmer and the Labour Party amidst political turmoil.

Less than two years after winning a huge majority, even many of Keir Starmer’s own MPs think he’s doomed. But is he? Despite a historic loss to the Green Party in the Gorton and Denton by-election last month, the prime minister has managed to cling on, for now. His critics point to a lack of vision in government, the alienation of Labour members and a failure to accept the need for radical reform. Those less critical argue it’s simply a problem with communicating his achievements, and that Britain is pretty much ungovernable anyway.James Butler is joined by Sienna Rodgers, deputy editor at the House magazine, and Jeremy Gilbert, professor of cultural and political theory at the University of East London, to consider the reasons for Starmer’s mess, from the selection of his MPs to the ‘iron law of oligarchy’. And if he’s not prime minister at the end of the year, who will be? Read more on politics in the LRB: ⁠https://lrb.me/lrbpolitics⁠ From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠https://lrb.me/storelrbpod⁠ Get in touch…

People in this episode

Host: James Butler

Guests: Sienna Rodgers, Jeremy Gilbert

Topics covered

  • politics
  • Keir Starmer
  • Labour Party
  • Green Party
  • government
  • reform

Keywords

  • Keir Starmer
  • Labour Party
  • Green Party
  • political theory
  • government reform

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Labour, Green Party, House magazine, University of East London

Places: Britain

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