Southport: why Starmer was heckled

We shouldn't be surprised that the prime minister faced the wrath of a handful of locals in a grieving town

It seemed odd at first. A prime minister, in office for just a few weeks, having been elected on a landslide, laying flowers at the scene where three young girls were slaughtered and several others maimed by a knife-wielding killer; yet, as he did so, facing catcalls and barracking from bystanders.

When I saw the footage of Sir Keir Starmer experiencing the wrath of a handful of locals in Southport, I was immediately taken aback. What had he done to deserve it? How could any blame reasonably be attached to him for this murderous rampage? This wouldn’t have happened to Tony Blair just a few weeks after that huge Labour victory in 1997, would it? `

But my surprise quickly dissipated. Because I got it. I suddenly realised what was going through the minds of the hecklers.