"Sleepy Keir"

After another uninspiring Keir Starmer speech for the party faithful today, the same weird question was asked twice by right wing news outlets. Starmer was invited to comment on "reports" that he was "weary" and "sleepy" and might not be up to electioneering. As someone who spends more time than is healthy following the ins and outs of mainstream politics discourse, where on earth was this coming from? For his part Starmer - rightly - laughed off the claims. There has never been any suggestion that among the rumours that swirl about his person that laziness is one of his vices. Looking into it a bit further, these "suggestions" are talking points put forward by unnamed Conservatives. In other words, they are baseless. Baseless, but not pointless.

This is a straight import from the United States. Or, to be more accurate, a lift from the Donald Trump playbook. While scurrilous his charge of "sleepy Joe" jibe has a certain truthiness considering the frailty and occasional attacks of bewilderment that afflict Joe Biden. Though Trump has to be careful, considering he often exhibits evidence of cognitive decline. But in the British context, it's a crudity designed to contrast old man Starmer (61) to an energetic and youthful Rishi Sunak (44). It's pathetic stuff that's unlikely to shift the dial. Especially then the Tories are lighting the touch paper to their own meagre chances.

You can see how this is going to work. At every Starmer presser a Tory hack is going to ask the question. The number of times it's asked will power a right wing "people keep asking" round of talking points, that fuel further questions. The hope is that Starmer will explode in exasperation, or minions from the likes of GB News will find themselves barred from future events. This would occasion a cycle of "woe me the victim" bellyaching that right wing politicians and journalists distinguish themselves in.

The 2019 election was appalling for all kinds of reasons. Horrendous attacks from across the broadcast and print media. Dishonest attacks from the Tories and from inside the party itself. But this time, with a heavy defeat certain and the press largely on Labour's side, one can only expect Tory attacks on Starmer and the shadow front bench to get worse, more desperate and, consequently, more deranged and absurd. And to think we're only one week into the campaign.

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