JACKIE Baillie has claimed Keir Starmer "most definitely will" become Prime Minister.
The Scottish Labour MSP told Politics Live that the public have responded well to Starmer's speech at the party's conference.
The show featured a video of one of Tony Blair's early Labour speeches. Presenter Alex Forsyth pointed out that Baroness Kate Hoey, who was one of the early members of the Newtownabbey Labour Party during the mid-1970s, was in the front row clapping.
Hoey said: "It was a great speech. It made us all go away feeling so enthused and excited and hoping that this was the real change. A little bit different from the slightly longer Keir Starmer speech which I have to say I didn't watch right through.
"But, you know, that's what conferences are about and leaders have to show some kind of charisma, to make, make the country and make their, their activists particularly feel that they're being led by someone who kind of knows what they're doing, or at least gives the impression that they know what they're doing. I think Tony Blair was very very good at that. Without a doubt, without him Labour would not have been in power and win three elections."
READ MORE: Keir Starmer’s Labour speech proves Labour leader doesn’t get Scotland
She went on to say Starmer "just does not have the charisma and the ability" to be Prime Minister, adding: "I reviewed a couple of books have been written about him recently and I said that at the end of it that I really haven't find out any more about him than anybody else knew.
"I mean I'm being quite honest I don't see him as being Prime Minister. I'm not saying Labour won't ever win again or anything like that but I don't think there'll be Keir Starmer Prime Minister."
But when asked if Keir Starmer will be Prime Minister, Baillie said: "I think that most definitely will and I would invite Kate to actually watch his speech because I think he's set out very clearly, who he is, what he is about.
"He is a serious politician with a plan for the country. What I heard from Boris Johnson was, to be frank, more about beavers than the cost of living.
"Coming out of a pandemic, when the country is still struggling, when we have a lot of work still to do, I want a serious politician that will guide the country forward. I don't want a showman."
When Baillie was asked if the public got that from Keir Starmer's speech, she said: "Well, you're not just talking to the party you are. You have an opportunity of media attention which is maybe not as great as in ordinary times. So people were able to hear from him."
She went on to reference Opinium research that found Starmer’s conference speech made a better impression on the public. It found 55% of people agreed with what Johnson had to say (compared to 63% for Starmer). A total of 41% disagreed with what the PM had to say (compared to 29% for Starmer).
Across all metrics (apart from "interesting") Johnson's speech performed worse than Starmer's speech last week.
— Opinium (@OpiniumResearch) October 6, 2021
Notably, 55% say they agreed with what Johnson had to say (compared to 63% for Starmer).
41% disagreed with what he had to say (compared to 29% for Starmer). pic.twitter.com/hy8cODfdFy
"On virtually every measure, Keir Starmer outstripped Boris Johnson," Baillie said.
Hoey responded: "Well, I mean let's see, the polls haven't shown a huge rise in Labour support since the Labour conference but these early days."
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