Keir Starmer gets nasty as he admits he 'loathes' Boris Johnson and warns ex-PM leaves his allies 'in the gutter'

Keir Starmer has admitted that he “loathes” former Prime Minister Boris Johnson but has a “much better” relationship with Rishi Sunak.

The Labour party leader also warned that anybody who had a relationship with Johnson has “landed in the gutter”.

Since being elected to his role in 2020, Starmer has faced three different Prime Ministers and claims he “never spoke behind the scenes” to Johnson.

And despite branding Sunak “weak” and “one-dimensional”, he had swapped personal mobile numbers with the Prime Minister.

Starmer told The Political Party podcast that he “couldn't give a toss” about insults thrown at him by Johnson, who branded him “Captain Crasheroonie Snoozefest”.

Keir Starmer says he 'couldn't give a toss' about insults thrown by Boris Johnson
Toby Melville

But added: “Anybody who's had any relationship with Johnson, in any sense of the word, has landed in the gutter.”

The Leader of the Opposition is keen to work with Sunak on subjects such as Ukraine and any domestic security incidents.

“My personal relationship with him is much better,” Starmer said.

“He phoned me the day he became Prime Minister and gave me his personal number. It is a different relationship and a different relationship across the despatch box. We're not texting about the Southampton-Arsenal scores.”

The Labour MP, who boasts poll leads over Sunak, was harsher on his assessment of the Tory party leader’s political ability.

He added: “He is weak. He is very one-dimensional. He hasn't got a mandate, and therefore he has not got strength.

“You don't have Suella Braverman in your Cabinet on merit. Every time there's been a threatened rebellion, he's backed down.

“There's a weakness problem, but there's also a real out-of-touch problem.”

Starmer also took a swing at his own predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who he confirmed would not be standing for the Labour party at the next election.

He said: “We've changed the Labour Party. Too many people in politics think it's all about them. It's not about your particular pet issue.

Keir Starmer says he has a 'much better' relationship with Rishi Sunak
PA

“It's whether we've got a united Labour Party that can fight an election and win it for the people who desperately need us to win.”

In comparison, Johnson said he “wouldn’t mind” being stuck in a lift with Starmer or outgoing Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

“Both individuals are actually far nicer and more amusing than you might otherwise imagine,” Johnson said.

“And the kind of hostility that you see between politicians on screen is often not reflected in real life.”