How brutal is the political life. Observe that cabinet table: each person is facing near impossible portfolios without the means to do what they recognize is needed.
What they were handed was even more ruinous than expected: they were handed explosive situations, misleading obstacles and enormous voids. The EU departure is showing itself as more economically devastating than predicted, currently costing the exchequer £80bn each year.
They are blighted by unfortunate circumstances: the Trump destroyer landed on their watch. What worse mishap than a jail staff member releasing a refused asylum-seeker individual convicted of sexual crimes? Migrant crossings feel relentless.
An unfortunate deputy leadership election at this moment was bound to give the Labour leader a difficult time. The minimal electoral backing at the Welsh parliament by-election might not even be their nadir.
They expect hostility, but they're only human. Frequently, Wes Streeting boldly states what all can see: that there is "deep disillusionment in this country at the moment" and "a growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round".
Nevertheless, the contemporary bitter state of public opinion is perplexing and alarming. The Prime Minister is the least popular prime minister on record. Really?
He is a honorable, committed person of positive aims, without undue arrogance or ego. Measure this against Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, or the relaxed confidence of the former Conservative leader, none having substantial to justify conceited self-confidence.
However, voters claim, Starmer is worse. In his leadership role, he demonstrates little charisma, they say: more seriously, he is missing political agility, creative thinking or understanding of where the wind blows.
Labour blundered regarding reductions to pensioners and disabled people, contrasted with spending increases in other areas. Uncertain which voters to appeal to, the party has left beneficial programs unpromoted, from working rights to sustainable development, new towns and training opportunities for the next generation.
Too many key consultants still think right-wing constituencies needs wooing, when almost twice as many voters have leaned liberal since Labour took office. Polling guru the renowned analyst advises the party to abandon courting populist constituency: they're lost.
Labour's leader is struggling; there's no denying it when research shows no leader could bounce back from these record-low ratings.
Yet, during unprecedented territory of such extreme volatility, history may be no guide. The leader extracted Labour from the period following Corbyn slough of despond that history said couldn't be turned around in one term.
Could another leader perform more effectively, or have we reached a near-ungovernable, never-content citizenry? Every administration may be opposed with similar speed once in power, despite overwhelming support, only if it appears bearing quick fixes offering substantial benefits for underfunded government departments and cash-strapped families.
Predictably, concern within the parliamentary party will make talk of leadership change rife if the spring local elections go as badly as predicted – or, certain observers propose, before that.
This represents the government's dilemma: The government's best chance lies in despair. Accept they might be wiped out whatever, so employ their parliamentary advantage for the full parliament to follow their natural social democratic instinct: introduce significant fiscal adjustments, increasing government income.
Expect to lose the next election, so do everything now. Ignore survey results and focus groups; enable the public to witness authentic dedication. The only way to restore some respect is to execute clearly what they consider most correct and reasonable.
The Chancellor rightly calls Reform "the single greatest threat" to British values. As the Tories virtually merge with Reform, an electoral pact of particular nature approaches.
The government's responsibility is to implement required actions to block this outcome. Prepare for coalition, be acceptable to allied groups when party affiliations matters less than the deep red line against an electoral threat unprecedented in modern history.
This represents a mission to defeat discouragement.
A tech journalist and AI researcher with a passion for exploring how emerging technologies impact society and business.