Keir Starmer and Gordon Brown, along with another former Labour prime minister, Tony Blair, in 2022, have come together to confront a global crisis. This unlikely alliance of former leaders has surprised many, but it is a testament to the gravity of the situation at hand.
The current Labour prime minister has been struggling on the domestic front, facing criticism and low approval ratings. However, in the face of this global crisis, he has risen to the occasion and rallied international support for his approach. Suddenly, from looking ill-suited to the role of prime minister, he has been transformed into the right person at the right time.
But this is not the first time such a transformation has taken place. Back in 2008, Gordon Brown was facing similar challenges. His short-lived honeymoon period in No.10 was a distant memory and his government was struggling in the polls. Questions were already being asked about whether he could survive until the next general election.
Then, the financial crash hit. Triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in America, Brown – a former chancellor – was forced to take charge and lead the global response to the crisis. And he did so with great success, earning widespread praise for his decisive actions.
The parallels between the present day and 2008 are striking. After a difficult first eight months in Downing Street, Keir Starmer’s fortunes have been revived at a time of huge global instability. With Donald Trump threatening to end American support for Ukraine and urging Europe to do more to defend itself from Russia, the PM has seized the initiative.
Risking the ire of his own backbenchers, Starmer announced that the UK’s foreign aid budget will be cut to fund an earlier-than-expected boost in defence spending. He then convened a summit of world leaders to forge an agreement on how to end the war, while also seeking to be a “bridge” between Washington and Europe.
Unlike the US president, Starmer has also reiterated his government’s steadfast support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even publicly embracing him during a flying visit to Downing Street. This strong and decisive leadership has not gone unnoticed by the public, as evidenced by the recent YouGov polling which shows a rise in Starmer’s approval ratings.
According to Patrick English, head of political analytics at YouGov, several factors could be contributing to this rise in approval ratings. The public believes that the government is handling the current situation around the Ukraine war and the US government well, and they also support the government’s decision to cut the international aid budget to fund more defence.
A Labour source also noted that in times of crisis, people look for strong and decisive leadership, and Starmer has provided just that. The public is relieved that someone is taking charge and providing a clear direction amidst the chaos.
There are other clear parallels between 2008 and 2025. The cabinet minister in charge of the government’s response – Alistair Darling in 2008 and David Lammy now – has played a secondary role, with the PM taking the lead. The response of the Conservative Party has also been similar, with their struggling attempts to decide whether to oppose or support the government’s actions.
But amidst all of this, one thing remains clear – Keir Starmer has emerged as a world statesman. And this is enough to silence his harshest critics. Just like in 2008, when all talk of replacing Brown was put on hold and ultimately forgotten, Starmer’s emergence as a global leader will put to rest any doubts about his suitability for the role of prime minister.
The financial crash also gave Brown the opportunity to deliver his famous “this is no time for a novice” line at Labour’s 2008 conference, aimed at ambitious cabinet minister David Miliband and the Conservative leader David Cameron. Similarly, the current crisis has given Starmer the chance to define what he and his government stand for.
“It’s not just that he has found his feet and his voice in the face of this crisis, it’s that the crisis has given him the space and focus to do so,” noted one source. After several false starts, Starmer now has the opportunity to properly relaunch his government and showcase his leadership abilities.
But as history has shown, prime ministers are ultimately judged by how they address domestic concerns. And while Starmer’s performance on the global stage has been impressive, he must also focus on addressing the issues facing the UK and its
