Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has delivered a withering assault on Sir Keir Starmer, branding the Prime Minister a “sorry excuse for a leader” during his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference.
Jenrick used his platform in Manchester to launch a comprehensive attack on Labour’s leader, listing what he described as a catalogue of failings and broken promises since the party took power.
“He’s proven himself to be a freebie-grabbing, free speech stifling, criminal-releasing, tax-raising, farmer-hating, Brexit-betraying, sorry excuse for a leader,” the senior Conservative told party delegates, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The Shadow Justice Secretary’s address combined humour with serious political criticism, at one point drawing comparisons between the Prime Minister and fictional comedy characters. Jenrick likened Starmer to both Mr Bean and David Brent, the cringe-inducing office manager from The Office, in remarks designed to mock the Labour leader’s perceived awkwardness and management style.
However, the speech took a more pointed turn when Jenrick focused on controversial appointments made by the Prime Minister. He reserved particular criticism for Sir Keir’s decision to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as Britain’s Ambassador to the United States.
Lord Mandelson, a veteran Labour politician and former European Commissioner, previously faced scandal over his connections to disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The peer was forced to resign from government positions in shame over the association, a fact Jenrick highlighted to undermine Starmer’s judgement.
The Shadow Justice Secretary also took aim at another high-profile appointment, questioning the Prime Minister’s selection of Lord Hermer as Attorney General. Jenrick drew attention to Lord Hermer’s previous professional association with Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Fein leader who has long faced allegations regarding connections to IRA terrorism during the Troubles.
“Shame on him, and shame on the man who appointed him,” Jenrick declared, a line that prompted loud ovation from Conservative members gathered in the Manchester conference hall.
The speech represents one of the most aggressive attacks on the Prime Minister from the Conservative frontbench since Labour’s election victory. Jenrick’s litany of accusations touched on multiple controversies that have plagued Starmer’s premiership in its early months.
The reference to “freebie-grabbing” alludes to revelations about gifts and hospitality accepted by the Prime Minister and senior Labour figures. The “free speech stifling” charge likely relates to concerns about proposed legislation and government approaches to online content and protest rights.
Jenrick’s “criminal-releasing” criticism appears aimed at Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s policy of early prisoner releases to address severe overcrowding in Britain’s jails, a crisis the Conservatives claim Labour has mishandled despite inheriting the problem.
The “tax-raising” accusation references Labour’s Budget measures, whilst “farmer-hating” relates to controversial changes to agricultural inheritance tax relief that have sparked fury in rural communities. The “Brexit-betraying” claim suggests the Conservatives intend to portray Labour’s closer alignment with the European Union as a betrayal of the 2016 referendum result.
The speech signals the Conservative Party’s strategy for attacking the government as it attempts to rebuild following its devastating general election defeat. By focusing on a wide range of policy areas and personal judgements, Jenrick sought to paint a picture of incompetence and poor decision-making at the heart of government.
The Shadow Justice Secretary’s remarks come as the Conservative Party continues its process of renewal following months in opposition. The party has sought to capitalise on early difficulties facing the Labour government, from economic challenges to controversial policy decisions.
Jenrick himself is positioning as a senior voice within the Conservative opposition, using high-profile conference speeches to establish his credentials as a forceful critic of the government. His uncompromising rhetoric reflects a broader party strategy of aggressive opposition rather than accommodation.
The speech’s reception amongst Conservative members suggests appetite within the party for robust attacks on Labour’s leadership. The loud ovations Jenrick received indicate delegates appreciate combative political rhetoric after months of electoral disappointment.
Labour has not yet responded publicly to Jenrick’s comments, though the government is expected to dismiss the criticisms as partisan attacks lacking substance. The Prime Minister’s allies are likely to point to Conservative responsibility for problems Labour inherited, including prison overcrowding and economic challenges.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
Image Credit:
Robert Jenrick — photo (generic) from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0
