{"text":[[{"start":4.95,"text":"There are precious few speeches in political history that fundamentally alter the landscape. Sir Keir Starmer’s on Monday morning will not be one of them."}],[{"start":14.05,"text":"It wasn’t a bad speech, though Starmer might have made it at any time in the past few years. But it was not one that changed the argument over whether he should be ousted as prime minister. Those who are demanding a “change of direction” or hoping for a glimpse of a different leader will not have found it. "}],[{"start":30.35,"text":"He tried. There would be a change of pace, a redoubling of commitments, Labour would go further, it would go faster. It would speak for the needs of the people who rely on it. There were even a couple of nuggets to cheer his MPs, not least the commitment to renationalising what remains of British Steel. On Europe, Starmer promised much more effort to put the UK back in Europe’s heart but stopped short of rejoining the institutions that would actually do that. "}],[{"start":58.150000000000006,"text":"So those looking for some real red meat will not have found it. Voters need hope, he declared, but so do his MPs and he did not give them any. The best reason for Starmer to stay — that the country simply does not need this now — is not being heard by MPs whose current focus is on the party. "}],[{"start":78.80000000000001,"text":"He was right in one way, when he argued that Labour cannot win as a weaker version of Reform UK or the Greens but only as a stronger version of Labour. Yet the fundamental problem for Labour and Starmer is that voters are not listening to him and therefore it. In many of the areas lost to Reform last week, there is a serious danger that voters have now lost the habit of voting Labour. "}],[{"start":101.55000000000001,"text":"Those who might yet be open to returning to the fold will need permission to give Labour another glance. A change of leader would offer that permission, though it might prove a fleeting respite given that nothing will change the economic fundamentals of the UK and some contenders alarm the bond markets. “Things Can Only Get Better” was a campaign song, not a forecast. "}],[{"start":123.30000000000001,"text":"And yet what is also clear is that many, many Labour MPs are nervous about stepping over the edge into a leadership challenge. They are not sure who will win. Those who want to see Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, in the role need to give him time to find a path back into parliament. So what might delay Starmer’s departure is that raft of MPs who are sure he has to go but not convinced it has to be this week. "}],[{"start":149.35000000000002,"text":"What won’t save him is this speech, or his comment at the weekend that he wants to go on for 10 years, or the decision to bring back Gordon Brown or Harriet Harman as advisers. Those moves probably made things worse, showing the paucity of strategy. "}],[{"start":165.65000000000003,"text":"The one note of substance was the clear indication that Starmer has no intention of making it easy for his opponents. He will not lightly step aside. That could buy him more time, or it could force one of his would-be successors into action. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has the least to gain from waiting. "}],[{"start":183.95000000000005,"text":"There are good reasons for Labour not to act now. There is no real hurry. The next election is up to three years away. None of the mooted alternatives has offered reason to think they have a serious plan for the country and most are likely to move in a direction of higher taxes, more regulation and more state interference. "}],[{"start":201.05000000000004,"text":"But events may simply have moved too far. What Starmer’s speech showed is that there is probably nothing he can do to save himself beyond refusing to crumble. His best bet now is that he has shown more grit than those who want him out."}],[{"start":215.85000000000005,"text":"The basic calculations still hold. Starmer’s tenure is ebbing away. Britain is heading into another zombie premiership. The blow could fall today, tomorrow, next week or next month. MPs are just weighing the odds and timings they need to get their people in place. The decision is made. It is now only about logistics. "}],[{"start":241.15000000000006,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778549220_6951.mp3"}