Analysis: Starmer finally gave us the emotion he’s been missing from his premiership

Finally, as he announced his resignation after nearly two years in office, we saw some real emotion from Keir Starmer. It has been one of the most notable things missing during his time in office – and perhaps one of the reasons so few people warmed to him, despite the landslide election win that propelled him into No 10. But a bit like Theresa May in 2019 – another prime minister who had appeared rather robotic until the end of her tenure – Sir Keir welled up as he delivered his speech from the Downing Street lectern under the eye of the world’s media. Sadly for him, as he stood beside his wife Victoria – whom he described as his “rock” – with his staff and supporters gathered around him, it was too late to make a difference. His time in charge is over. Sir Keir is the sixth prime minister in less than 10 years since the Brexit referendum to make this statement. It started with David Cameron on the morning after the Brexit referendum on 24 July 2016, before May resigned in 2019. Then came Boris Johnson in 2022, Liz Truss in the same month, Rishi Sunak in 2024 – and now Sir Keir. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok /   / independent   Instagram /   / the.independent   X (Twitter) /   / independent   Facebook /   / theindependentonline   Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations