GB News hosts Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's delivery of a major speech at today's Kyiv conference, marking three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Presenter Bev Turner criticised Starmer's reliance on prepared remarks, stating: "What strikes me every time I see Starmer speak is that somebody has handed him a piece of paper and said, read that out.
"Who is handing him these pieces of paper? And why can't he talk from the heart?"
Fellow host Andrew was equally critical, describing the Prime Minister as "more wooden than a tree".
Bev Turner took aim at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for reading from a pre-written speech during a call with world leaders
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In his address to the Kyiv conference, Starmer insisted "Russia does not hold all the cards in this war" and promised further "sweeping sanctions" against Putin's regime.
The Prime Minister pledged British military support, stating the UK was "ready and willing to support this with troops on the ground" to ensure lasting peace. He emphasised that any peace settlement must be based on a "sovereign Ukraine backed up with strong security guarantees".
Delivering his verdict on Starmer's appearance, Andrew claimed: "It's easy to doze off. This is the third anniversary of the most serious war on European soil since the Second World War, and that's the best of British Prime Minister - speaking from typed notes."
Noting Starmer's previous role as Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew questioned how the Prime Minister can be "as wooden as a tree" when he is meant to be a "clever lawyer".
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Sir Keir Starmer addressed world leaders in a pre-written speech in a group call to support Ukraine
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Andrew told the GB News panel: "He's a highly skilled KC, he's an advocate in court, he's meant to be a clever lawyer.
"Not to denigrate the public sector, but is that why he stayed in the public sector and never tried his arm in the private sector? - because he'd have sunk without trace. He's more wooden than a tree."
Offering his view on Starmer's speech, former Labour adviser Matthew Torbitt claimed that although he "doesn't like to criticise Labour", he felt Starmer "delivered the speech with all the charisma of a wet hankie".
Torbitt added: "This is a vital week for Keir, I would say the UK and more importantly, Ukraine. He's got to prove what he's worth this week with regards to Donald Trump and Ukraine.
Bev told GB News that the Prime Minister 'lacks authenticity'
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"We hear he's a highly skilled KC, but I think the one thing I always get from his speech is lacks of authenticity, and I think that's maybe why he was better as a barrister rather than a politician. He gives me the feeling that he doesn't believe a single word of what he's saying."
Encouraging the Prime Minister to "give it some gumption" on the world stage, Torbitt concluded: "There has to be a settlement that works for a sovereign Ukraine, maybe a US backstop, to ensure that there's some level of security there, and it would be a lasting peace.
"And if Ukraine fails, then we all fail. Give it some gumption, man.
"The whole world may depend on this this week, and the way that you're looking, it's as if you can't be bothered, and you're reading a shopping list."
