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![Starmer has received wall-to-wall positive coverage](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2024/07/09/TELEMMGLPICT000384514681_17205267752730_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqZmvSy4XwtMQWXHR9fSJAJAIopaQmtDRk9pkX1ShTs6s.jpeg?imwidth=680)
You might have been forgiven for thinking it was like witnessing the Second Coming. When the results of the first exit poll were splashed across our nation’s screens last Thursday night at 10pm there was a collective outbreak of rapture from our supposedly neutral TV media.
And the rapture was nothing short of evangelical. Truly blessed.
On Sky TV some expensive graphics helped us all to countdown to the moment of ecstasy led by the high priestess of camp, Kay Burley. As she excitedly gasped over the displayed Labour majority – sounding more like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally than a calm, considered news anchor – the director hurriedly switched to a beaming Andy Burnham who didn’t even bother to contain himself.
After all, why should he? He is the Labour mayor of Manchester. No such excuses though for Emily Maitlis. The former Newsnight host was co-opted by Channel 4 to present their election night with Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
She was practically struck dumb as she struggled to get the words out. “So. This – is – your – voice,” she stuttered. “This is our country deciding, we’ve had enough.”
Alistair Campbell and Rory Stewart led the cheerleading from the sidelines as Emily continued to enunciate slowly that this was the most significant result in many people’s lifetimes. Stirring stuff.
Only at Talk – and I obviously declare an interest here – did Nigel Farage get a mention. The biggest share of the vote by a minor party. And the greatest triumph for an alternative voice in a general election.
Over at the BBC it was Clive Myrie and Laura Kuenssberg trying very hard not to look smug as the results poured in over the course of the next several hours.
But if you thought election night was bad, just wait until you hear what happened when the Cabinet appointments started rolling in the following day. Grown men and women were literally bursting into tears at the sheer beatification of the most holy people alive.
I bring you just a few of the gushing tributes to Sir Keir Starmer’s activities over the weekend.
ITV’s Robert Peston was moved to write on X when Labour hired some unelected experts: “These are imaginative and thoughtful appointments. Vallance gets AI and the AI Industrial Revolution. Timpson was impressive when Steph and I interviewed him on our podcast.”
That’s Patrick Vallance, controversial lockdown specialist and James Timpson, the retail boss whose claim to fame is that he trains ex-cons to make keys for your house.
Arch remainer columnist Ian Dunt posted: “This Starmer press conference is exceptional. Focused, broad, relatively detailed, thoughtful, and guided by decent values.” It’s almost as if we should all benefit from a trip to Lourdes later. A government of service indeed.
The best act of derangement goes to Marina Purkiss, the ludicrously over-promoted podcaster and footballer’s wife who declared that she was in tears at the appointment of so many “decent people” just as Ed Miliband was resurrected from the dead to come back as Energy Secretary.
When Downing Street published the picture of Sir Keir working past his own self-imposed deadline of 6pm, burning the midnight oil with a chink of light shining through the curtains, Jon Sopel couldn’t help but become carried away with the moment.
The former BBC journalist opined: “A pinch yourself moment” as the new prime minister was connected to Air Force One and President Joe Biden. I mean, let’s get real guys, this is what prime ministers do. It’s not some kind of Labour fanzine. Sopel used to have a White House press pass.
Clearly the cheerleaders of the new government don’t want to ask any questions. No. They want to bask in the collective glow of virtue.
Mike Graham presents Morning Glory, the breakfast show on Talk
Broadcast media fawning over Labour is a national embarrassment
Senior journalists can hardly disguise their glee at Starmer’s election victory. There’s no hope they’ll hold this government to account