The Prime Minister faces sharp criticism from within his own party as Robert Jenrick, a senior Tory member, likened Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership to the inept character Baldrick from the television series Blackadder, branding his tenure in Downing Street a “sorry excuse,” reports BritPanorama.
During the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester, Jenrick lambasted Starmer for stifling free speech, betraying Brexit, and raising taxes while addressing the party’s delegates. He drew a comparison to Baldrick, who serves as the bumbling servant and sidekick to Edmund Blackadder in the popular BBC series.
Jenrick remarked, “Now we all knew that Keir Starmer would be a bad Prime Minister. But I don’t think anyone anticipated he would be this bad. He’s combined the management style of David Brent with the administrative grip of Blackadder’s Baldrick.”
He further criticized the Labour leader, stating, “He’s proven himself to be a freebie-grabbing, free speech-stifling, criminal-releasing, tax-raising, farmer-hating, Brexit-betraying, aspiration-sapping sorry excuse for a leader.” Jenrick condemned Starmer, likening him unfavorably to notable figures while asserting that this offers a reason for optimism as “the fantasists masquerading as experts are seeing their myths busted.”
Jenrick, who finished second to Kemi Badenoch in the recent leadership contest, is viewed as a potential successor should Badenoch be removed from her position. During his speech, he called on the Tories to “take our country back,” emphasizing the value of British culture, including food, beer, and a respected military.
His remarks come alongside an announcement that criminals will face stricter sentences under upcoming Tory reforms aimed at eliminating perceived injustices in the current judicial system. He vows to challenge the notion of “woke judges” delivering lenient sentences, criticizing the existing system as a “two-tier nightmare” that needlessly complicates justice.
The Sentencing Council, initiated by Labour, had faced backlash for its suggestions, which included considerations of an offender’s race and background in sentencing. This proposal sparked widespread anger, prompting the government to enact emergency legislation to block it.
Justice Secretary David Lammy responded sharply, stating, “Robert Jenrick calls himself a patriot, but he tramples on the British values he claims to defend. He calls himself a Conservative, but he threatens to trash the institutions and traditions that hold our country together. The independence of judges from politicians is not optional. It is the cornerstone of British democracy.”
Lammy further asserted, “Unlike Robert Jenrick, the public knows Britishness isn’t about retreating into suspicion or judging people by the colour of their skin. It’s about pride in what we build and contribute together. While the Conservative Party feeds off division and decline, Labour is delivering the patriotic renewal our country needs.”
