‘Unambitious’, ‘cautious’, ‘authentic’: what public sector workers think of Keir Starmer | Keir Starmer

Labour leader Keir Starmer promised in an interview with Sky News last month that a Labour government “will fund our public services properly. I believe in our public services”.

But how much do public sector workers believe in him? The Guardian spoke to healthcare workers, teachers, social workers and local government officials, who largely expressed muted support for Starmer. Many said they wanted a bolder, more radical vision from Labour after years of austerity.

Others said they did not plan to vote for the party for the first time because they felt Starmer had moved Labour too far away from its traditional left-wing values.

Amanda LyonsThe 66-year-old, a children’s social worker in Cardiff, said she had been a loyal Labour voter but would not vote for it this time. While this was partly due to the lack of clarity on Labour’s plans for public services, key factors for her were Starmer’s failure to condemn Brexit and calling the killings of Palestinians in Gaza genocide.

Lyons said: “Starmer is trying to make Labour as big as possible, broadening the party so much that it can include everyone. But if you’re not going to take a stand on the big moral issues and values, what does that say about him and his party? He’s so keen to get into power that he’s just not prepared to say anything that might upset any particular group.”

“I don’t want a Conservative government, but my conscience won’t let me vote Labour.”

Andrew LynchThe 70-year-old semi-retired primary school teacher from Mitcham, London, said he respected the fact that Starmer had played it “safe” to get elected and that he was “careful not to make any mistakes”.

Lynch, who works for a multi-academy trust, said he saw Starmer’s lacklustre reputation as a positive after Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. “Honestly, after the buffoons who have governed us for the last few years, I think we need a mature government. It can be quite quiet. It can be not too passionate, but it is authentic.”

LouiseThe 40-year-old deputy headteacher from Essex said she thought Starmer had been wise to set out cautious and measured policy positions. “I feel quite positive because I think he’s coping with expectations,” she said.

But he hopes his seemingly bland vision is just a starting point for a Labour government. “I hope it will become bolder as things improve.”

Margaret, 50, a town planner from Kent, felt similarly. “Starmer’s political vegetable broth,” she added. “The Tories are all sugary cakes, jelly, foie gras and caviar, and we’ve all got sore tummies. We need some bread and butter and plain soup.”

Dr. Jason HoldcroftThe 42-year-old NHS consultant psychiatrist from Derbyshire said he was “deeply disappointed by (Starmer’s) rejection of the radical and transformative agenda and values ​​he campaigned for in 2019” when he served as shadow Brexit minister under Jeremy Corbyn.

But he hopes it’s just political pragmatism. “I hope that’s not too kind of an assessment: that he’s tied himself down to doing whatever it takes to win this election, which is understandable.”

On a more positive note, Holdcroft said he thought Starmer genuinely cared about the welfare of the less well-off. “I hope I’m not deluding myself,” he added, “but I think he genuinely wants tax reform to properly fund public services. I’m sure we’ll see some genuine honesty at least, rather than shameless Tory profiteering.”

Georgia NichollsThe 25-year-old local government official from Grantham said that while Starmer “doesn’t come across as a visionary or particularly charismatic person”, she respects him for acting strategically to gain power.

She voted Conservative in 2019, partly because she did not feel comfortable voting for Corbyn. She praised Starmer for focusing on making the Labour Party more electable, adding that his pragmatism made it harder for the Conservatives and the media to score “cheap points”, such as accusations that Corbyn did not bow properly at the statue.

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JamieThe 28-year-old London firefighter said his support for Labour in this election was mainly based on the party’s pledge to repeal the Conservatives’ anti-union laws.

He added that he initially saw Starmer as a neoliberal, similar to Tony Blair, but the firefighter now believes he will be more focused on improving the welfare state, due to policies such as the national wealth fund.

But it’s still unclear what Starmer stands for: “I saw him do a party radio show with Gary Neville. I don’t know what that was all about – are you trying to get craftsmen who watch football to vote Labour? But he didn’t really say anything about public services or what he was actually going to do to make England seem like a nice place to live.”

Lauren EllisThe 45-year-old secondary school teacher from Kettering, Northamptonshire, said she would only vote Labour if the Conservatives joined the election in her constituency.

“Starmer’s vision is so unambitious. There is no ‘left’ left in the Labour Party any more, Starmer has made sure to eradicate it. The poor, the disabled, the young, the vulnerable and all the other groups who need help have no one to represent them.”

Andy, a sixth-form lecturer from Stoke-on-Trent said he felt Starmer had been unfairly “tarred with the fact that he’s boring”. He said the Labour leader should “admit to it rather than try to prove he’s not”.

But he was concerned about Starmer’s willingness to abandon radical reforms in favour of positions “that will appeal to more centre and right-wing Conservatives and perhaps even some Reform Party voters”.

Although the teacher feels more in tune with the Greens and Liberal Democrats, he feels supporting them would be a wasted vote in his constituency. He added: “I’ll probably vote Labour. But I’ll have to take a shower when I do.”