Keir Starmer's big speech was tragic - it exposed the reason why it's all over for him

Keir Starmer is in denial. He’s in denial about the fact that his MPs no longer want him as Labour leader. He’s in denial that he is to blame for his party’s humiliating and historic defeats in last week’s catastrophic elections.

Worst of all, he appears to be in denial about his job as Prime Minister. That’s why instead of getting on with it, he spent most of yesterday morning giving a speech in a desperate last ditch attempt to save his own skin. This unedifying bout of navel-gazing took place while Britain stares down the barrel of a crippling cost of living crisis.

Not to mention the economic pain that’s heading our way, the one million young people out of work, the immigration crisis, a ballooning welfare bill and failing social care.

Yet, all this Prime Minister is interested in is making sure he survives another day.

It was billed as make or break for Sir Keir.

He had to give the speech of his life to save his bacon from a ravenous and hostile Labour party.

Offer some fight, some hope and silence the doubters.

But, as is so often the case with this Prime Minister, he failed to deliver.

It was a bit like the husband who is in the dog house after months upon months of forgotten promises.

But instead of returning home with tickets for a romantic weekend break in Paris, all he has is a wilting bouquet of flowers picked up from the local Londis.

Labour MPs must have thought: Is that it?

Yes, there were moments when Sir Keir, tieless and sleeves rolled up, genuinely showed some emotion. But they were few and far between.

For a speech that vowed to abandon “incrementalism” and start making the big changes, it felt like more of the same fiddling.

There was only a single cursory mention of immigration and not one mention of the massive welfare bill.

This was a speech that was not designed to speak to the millions of working class voters who have deserted his party for Reform.

It was all about him.

Even when he got to the central theme - closer ties with Europe and an attack on Brexit - Starmer was a dismal let down.

He vowed that his Labour Government will be defined by “rebuilding our relationship with Europe” with Britain at its heart.

That will infuriate Express readers, no doubt. But his failure to go the whole hog and rip up red lines on the Customs Union and Single Market will anger europhiles.

It was somewhat emblematic of Starmer’s premiership in that he never seems to want to offend anyone but always manages to do the opposite by being too cautious.

And that is the nub of it really.

His ineffectual leadership style, coupled with some calamitous decisions over Winter Fuel Payment, Peter Mandelson and National Insurance, have sped up Labour’s demise.

That’s why Sir Keir’s survival prospects remain at zero.

After this limp attempt to reset his premiership - attended by only two members of his Cabinet - all that is left now is for Labour to tear itself apart to find a successor.

The timetable for appointing a new Prime Minister is critical as Blairites and the hard-Left wrestle for control.

The latter, including Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband, want a delay so Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has a chance to return to the Commons - while Blairite Wes Streeting would be favourite if the contest is resolved quickly.

Whichever way it goes, short or long, it means Starmer and Labour will spend increasingly more and more time thinking about themselves.

Britain deserves better.