The thing is there has been this tendency in the last few years for leaders to have not been in the Commons for very long before they become party leader. Starmer had only been an MP for 5 years when he became leader. Sunak 7. This is unusual historically. 1/
Blair for example had been in the Commons for 11 years before becoming leader and 14 before he became PM. Thatcher had been an MP for 20 years before she became PM. Same for Harold Wilson and Ted Heath. And it really shows. Sunak had terrible political judgement and so does Starmer. 2/
The two most recent Prime Ministers have both made mistakes that Blair, Thatcher and Wilson never would have done.
Feb 5, 2026 20:57