This afternoon’s instalment of Sky News was ground to a halt for a Keir Starmer alert. The Prime Minister appeared on screen as a breaking news banner appeared while he was stepping off a plane. The breaking alert reported that he had arrived in Armenia ahead of the European Political Summit in Yerevan, the nation’s capital. As he was walking off the aircraft a day before the summit, a Sky News host said: “We will bring you the latest shots of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has just landed in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.“He is there in the country with several other leaders, including Ukraine’s President.”
Starmer will also be joined by leaders from countries including Norway and Finland.
He added: “The meeting is happening throughout the day and as you can see, Starmer has landed in the country that borders Iran and other countries.”
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan welcomed Starmer at Zvartnots Airport once he set foot on the ground.
As the announcement was being made, Sky News viewers commented on the news on X, with one person penning: ” You’ve got to be kidding, he obviously doesn’t care about all the @UKLabour Councillors about to lose their seats. Instead of campaigning he’s off with the EU again, he’s obsessed.”
Another said: “Leaving Labour to fend for themselves in the elections as he has another all expenses paid getaway.” A third remarked: “Doesn’t want to be here considering what’s about to happen to his party.”
Starmer is facing mounting pressure over his leadership as his party is expected to make heavy losses in the polls on May 7.
In a piece for The Observer, the Prime Minister has pleaded with Labour not to “descend into political infighting” ahead of the local elections.
He penned: “We have a choice. We could sink into the politics of grievance and division. Or we could rise to this moment – together – in a national effort that matches the scale of the threats and turbulence we face.
“I am talking about a national mission to become a stronger, more resilient, and more united nation, allowing us to take control of our future, raise our sights, and reach towards something better.”
The leader added: “When the nation rallied together to deal with Covid, the last government could have channelled that spirit to build a better nation. But instead, they descended into political infighting and let the country slump back to the old status quo. Not this time.”
