Sir Keir Starmer has faced significant criticism following what commentators are calling a 'cringe-making' video address to his son released to mark International Men's Day last Wednesday.
A Political Misstep
The Labour leader released a video of himself reading a letter to his teenage son, though the recipient was notably absent from the footage. The gesture, intended to mark International Men's Day on Wednesday 24 November 2025, has been widely perceived as awkward and revealing about Starmer's political persona.
Political analyst Eliot Wilson described the experience as "distinctly odd and unsettling", suggesting the Prime Minister's attempt to showcase his human side had backfired spectacularly. The video comes amid ongoing public discussion about masculinity in contemporary society, though Wilson expressed scepticism about the International Men's Day concept itself.
Family as Political Prop
Starmer and his wife have historically maintained strict privacy around their two children - a 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter - whose names remain largely unknown to the public. This protective approach makes the decision to use his son as a reference point in the video particularly striking.
The letter touched upon Starmer's relationship with his own parents, mentioning his mother's chronic Still's disease and describing his toolmaker father as "difficult" and "complicated". However, critics argue the content descended into political cliché, with vague references to "the pressures on young men" and sacrifices made for his political career.
Wilson compared the letter's quality to "a creative meeting at Hallmark Cards on a darkening Friday afternoon with everyone eager to wrap up and go home", invoking Winston Churchill's famous criticism of Anthony Eden's draft speech.
Revealing the Hollow Core
The incident highlights a broader concern about Starmer's political identity. While his lack of charisma was previously framed as responsible and serious during his time in opposition, since becoming Prime Minister he's been revealed as "blank and bewilderingly hollow" according to Wilson.
Colleagues have reportedly complained about his lack of coherent vision, while voters see an "awkward, often tetchy leader with no ideological moorings". The International Men's Day video, with its "rehearsed spontaneity", appears to be another attempt to bridge this authenticity gap.
Starmer spoke in the video about hearing a voice telling him he wasn't good enough as a young man. Critics suggest that voice has returned, and increasingly, it might be right. The manipulation of family for political messaging, while simultaneously demanding privacy, represents what Wilson sees as an untenable position for any modern politician.
