Even Cabinet ministers fear Starmer is too BORING to revive Labour's electoral hopes after Sadiq Khan warns PM must ramp up 'storytelling'
Keir Starmer is facing pressure from within his own Cabinet to become more exciting to win back Labour voters.
The Prime Minister is under fire over his stolid leadership at a time when the party is trailing Reform and Sir Keir himself faces a crisis of popularity.
One poll this week, as Labour holds its annual conference in Liverpool, put satisfaction with the PM at a historic low for any leader of the UK.
The threat from Reform, and warning shots from figures within Labour like Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, have prompted Starmer loyalists in his top team to demand he light a fire under his premiership.
They want him to get on the front foot by being louder about the positives from Labour's first 15 months.
One Cabinet minister told the Mail the PM needed to boost his messaging on things like wage growth, adding: 'In the digital era you do need a leader who is a bit distinctive. In the US people follow Trump rather than the Republican Party.
'That's not really what Keir is good at. He's not going to be an exciting character.
'You need to get out there and be willing to take chances.'
It came as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a potential successor to Sir Keir, used his own speech to loudly rally the troops.
The Prime Minister is under fire over his stolid leadership at a time when the party is trailing Reform and Sir Keir himself faces a crisis of popularity.
Sir Sadiq Khan broke cover last night to suggest that the PM needed to be better at selling Labour's ideas to voters.
It came as Health Secretary Wes Streeting, seen as a potential successor to Sir Keir, used his own speech to loudly rally the troops.
He took on 'snake oil salesman' Mr Farage, saying he was a 'con artist' and the country faces 'a battle of progressives against reactionaries, patriotism versus nationalism'.
But he also spoke about changes that Labour has made to the NHS since taking office.
It came as Sir Sadiq Khan broke cover last night to suggest that the PM needed to be better at selling Labour's ideas to voters.
The London mayor used an appearance at the conference to suggest he become better at 'the art of storytelling'
' It is important to tell stories', he said.
'I have not spoken to Keir about his speech, but I am hoping in Keir's speech he will tell a story about the country we were, the country we are and the country we want to see.'
Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar also fired a potshot at the PM, saying the party had to be better at communicating its successes.
A recent Ipsos Scotland poll suggested Sir Keir was less popular than US President Donald Trump, adding to Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar's problems as he seeks to oust the SNP in the 2026 elections.
Asked if that was a problem, Mr Sarwar told a Politico fringe event at the Labour Party conference: 'Keir Starmer is not standing to be first minister, I am.'
He appeared frustrated at Labour's inability to trumpet achievements on rising wages and falling mortgage costs.
Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar also fired a potshot at the PM, saying the party had to be better at communicating its successes.
Polling by Ipsos Mori has put Sir Keir's personal ratings at the lowest level for any PM since comparable records began in 1977
'Why aren't the Labour politicians, whenever they're on the TV or whenever on the stage, when they're asked, rightly, about the cost of living crisis, making the case?' he said.
'Why aren't we telling that positive Labour story and making that case?'
With Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham not disguising his leadership ambitions, Mr Sarwar said Labour had to make use of all its key players.
He said: 'Keir Starmer is a fantastic Prime Minister and Andy Burnham is a fantastic mayor of Greater Manchester.
'We need all the best people on the pitch making the case for Labour.'
Mr Burnham appeared to be in full retreat last night as he said Sir Keir Starmer was the right person to be Prime Minister.
The Greater Manchester mayor offered his backing to Sir Keir despite having previously fuelled speculation he was poised to mount a Labour leadership challenge.
In the days prior to Labour's conference in Liverpool this week, Mr Burnham had suggested unhappy MPs were privately urging him to challenge the PM.
He then issued a fresh outburst against Sir Keir's leadership in a fiery speech at a conference fringe event on Sunday night.
But - despite leaving the door open for a future leadership bid - Mr Burnham seemed to be backing away on Monday following a backlash against his posturing.
Asked at a conference fringe event if he thought Sir Keir was the right man to be Labour leader and PM, Mr Burnham replied: 'Yes.'
He had earlier insisted 'you would have to wrench' him out of the North West to return to Westminster.
'There's no ability for me to launch,' Mr Burnham said, as he sought to address claims he was being 'disloyal' and 'completely out for myself'.
