KEIR Starmer is smaller in person than you might think.
But Labour’s towering red line in polling graphs still dwarfs that of the Conservatives, so Starmer was relaxed and smiling as he floated around the party’s Westminster offices on Thursday night.
These sorts of events see politicians, their bag carriers and assembled hacks crammed into a room as the star attraction winds their way through stopping to make small talk about football and Christmas.
He said that one of the main things he’s worried about if he’s handed the keys to Number 10 was the prospect of giving up the Arsenal season ticket he’s held for decades. He’s stood beside the same blokes for more than 20 years, he said. He’d be sad to have to leave them behind.
I elicited a disapproving grimace from Starmer when I suggested he was ruthless enough to turf out a few stalwart Gunners and get his security detail in instead.
READ MORE: Scots react to Keir Starmer's praise for Margaret Thatcher
Another surprising detail about the Labour leader is he is a pub on Christmas Day guy.
I was always of the mind that leaving the house for any reason on December 25 was inexcusable, so this revelation further lowered him in my estimations.
These sorts of events are part and parcel of the culture in Westminster. Political parties lay on booze and snacks to curry favour with journalists.
Their purpose is to meet people and Labour’s offices were packed with hacks hoping to get the phone numbers of people who will likely be key players in the next government.
But it was a Starmer solo show, with no advisers or shadow cabinet ministers in attendance – other than deputy leader Angela Rayner who gave a speech at the beginning of the bash. In the interests of full disclosure, I missed that because I was doing a bit of Christmas shopping.
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