Does Keir Starmer deserve some more time? I’m wary of a rush to judgement

Many will think the Labour leader has had enough of a chance already – but TV is full of series that nearly ended quickly, yet lasted, writes Katy Brand

Knockout blow? Labour performed disastrously in the local elections (Getty Images)

I won’t win a Pulitzer for pointing out that the question following the Labour bloodbath on Thursday’s elections is: can Keir Starmer continue as party leader? I am not the only one asking this, as you may have noticed, though perhaps I come at it slightly differently. I have been in the entertainment industry for my entire working life. I find it hard not to think in terms of show business when approaching other problems, so please don’t think me flippant when I make the following analogy. I simply don’t know any different – I’m like Shirley Temple, but with more alcohol.

If you don’t mind indulging me for a moment, can we please imagine the Labour leadership in terms I understand. Sir Keir’s show is called Starmer – it’s a bit like Frasier but without the jokes. Series one of Starmer started well, then went a bit flabby in the middle, followed by a strong penultimate episode. And then the finale was an absolute flop.

So, will Starmer now get a second series? Let’s call the staggering Hartlepool by-election loss Labour suffered at the hands of the Tories the Starmer series one finale. The ratings were disappointing. The numbers were very bad. In any TV series, the big wigs like to see steady progression upwards. If you are going to be in with a chance of going again, the final episode needs to have attracted more viewers than the first.