Keir Starmer is officially finished – his cowardly live TV move proves it

As a TV editor, I understandably cover a lot of live television. I’m used to seeing politicians doing the media rounds on Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast and GB News, where they are generally asked the same sorts of questions on whatever the issue of the day is. That has, obviously, happened a lot during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s media round after US President Donald Trump attacked Venezuela.

Trump’s forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. He was later seen handcuffed and blindfolded in US captivity, with Trump assuring the world that the US will “run” Venezuela in the interim. Asked if he supported the sudden invasion of a sovereign nation – something he was quick to condemn in the issue of Russia and Ukraine – Keir Starmer was obviously keen to avoid provoking his “friend” Trump.

Over and over, he trotted out the party line – he didn’t have all the facts, it was a “fast-moving situation”, he needed to speak to Trump to understand all the information.

Starmer would not condemn the strike on Venezuela, which killed at least 40 people. At first, it was understandable – it really was a fast-moving situation. But now, four days after the strike on January 2, surely Starmer has enough facts at his disposal to get off the fence once and for all.

But no. He’s still sticking to his guns, embarrassing himself on Channel 4 news yesterday (January 5).

Confronted by a reporter on live TV, who said: “Some people might be puzzled that you say you think America might not be in breach of international law over Venezuela. I can’t find an international lawyer who thinks this is anything other than a blatant breach!”, Starmer was left stammering.

He replied: “I-i-international law has to be the framework and the anchor, the benchmark if you like, against which we gauge all actions of all governments across the world. It’s important we don’t lose sight of the substance here – the president was illegitimate and the thing that we need above all else is a peaceful transition to democracy.”

When he was then confronted about Trump prioritising American oil companies rather than this switch to democracy, he avoided the question altogether. He was instantly branded a “coward” by viewers – and I tend to agree.

He insisted the situation is “complicated”. It’s very clear the Labour leader is not going to say a word against Donald Trump and risk Britain’s alliance with the US – but it has been pointed out again and again that this very obvious attempt to make nice could be setting a bad example for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Have we ever had a prime minister so indecisive? I don’t think so. Starmer can’t commit to a single opinion – and if he does, it will likely be swayed by public opinion in a matter of hours.