Prime Minister Keir Starmer has now decided that the key to setting national policy is making promises—not to Parliament, not to the electorate, not even to his party—but to celebrities.
Yes, you heard that right. Apparently, celebrity endorsements are now the gateway to getting policy discussed and voted on in the hallowed halls of Westminster.
The recent declaration by Starmer that he made “a promise to Esther Rantzen before the election that we would provide time for a debate and a vote on assisted dying” and that he’s “very pleased” to make good on that promise should leave every sane-minded citizen scratching their heads.
Is this how we govern now? Are we really crafting national legislation based on private commitments to media personalities?
Let’s not kid ourselves—Esther Rantzen is a respected broadcaster and campaigner, but should she, or any other famous face for that matter, have the Prime Minister’s ear in a way that the rest of the country does not? If you’re famous, if you’ve graced our screens, does that give you direct access to No. 10 and a golden ticket onto the legislative agenda?
What about the promises Starmer made to the British people? You know, the millions of citizens who voted based on policies, not private tête-à-têtes with TV stars?
Starmer has been strangely silent about those promises—like the ones he made about not raising energy prices. We were told by this government that they were going to stand up for ordinary working people, but what happened? Energy bills are skyrocketing, and so are taxes. What about the elderly pensioners across this country who were promised support for their winter fuel bills? Are they supposed to dial up a celeb to get on the PM’s radar?
It seems, in Starmer’s Britain, if you’re not a household name, you may as well not bother. The man who promised he would lead with integrity has now reduced national policy to something that can be shaped over a glass of bubbly with the latest luminary.
Plus, it raises the question: if Esther Rantzen can get a personal promise delivered by the Prime Minister to secure a debate, just imagine what someone like Lord Alli is possibly achieving behind the scenes. The prominent media mogul and Labour peer, with deep pockets, who’s given Starmer a fortune including designer clothes and use of his multimillion pound apartment was even handed a pass to Downing Street. Lord Alli could potentially have policies bent to his will with a mere whisper in Starmer’s ear. Is this how policy is shaped now in the Labour government?
Let’s be clear—I’m not getting into whether the issue of assisted dying should deserve a debate. It’s a serious, complex, and deeply personal issue that must be treated with the gravity it deserves. But what’s deeply unsettling here is the precedent Starmer is once again setting. This isn’t just about assisted dying; this is about how our country is governed. If decisions about debates in Parliament can be based on private assurances made to public figures, what next? Will our tax policy be determined by a chat with the latest reality TV star? Will we see the future of defence decided after dinner with a pop icon?
Britain deserves better. We deserve a Prime Minister who makes promises he intends to keep to the British people, not just to the rich and famous or those with deep pockets.
Claire Bullivant, Editor
Claire is the founder and editor of the Conservative Post and was a co-founder of the Conservative Democratic Organisation. Claire is now setting up www.GreatBritishPAC.com. Pre-register today.
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