Giles Smith: I hope Starmer turns out to be as boring as he looks

I hope Starmer turns out to be as boring as he looks. Actually, I hope he’s even more so – totally yawnsome, a term-long crasher. Recently our prime ministers have been infuriating chancers, performative oafs and, latterly, someone who seems to be auditioning for a presenter role on children’s television. It’s the sign of an unhealthy, unhappy nation. Politicians in peacetime should be bores – geeks, wonks, career committee-members who quietly make sure things work properly so the rest of us can get on with our lives. We appoint them to do the admin, after all, and we shouldn’t have to think about them much, let alone be rendered anxious and enraged by them on a daily basis. A period of basic, grey competence would be very welcome at this point. If Starmer is boring, he’ll more than likely be doing well and so will we.

Giles Smith is the author of My My: Abba through the ages