Impatient petitioners for an early election are treating Labour like a Premier League team with a couple of bad results

It’s the logical conclusion to the disposable society. Don’t like the result of the last general election? Then just have another one. Who cares if the new government has only been in office for four months? If you’re not feeling markedly better off already then the new prime minister is clearly a dud. No matter that it actually might take years to turn around an economy that has been on its knees for more than a decade. Just never give Labour an even break. Keir Starmer is like a Premier League manager after a run of bad results. On borrowed time.

At least that’s what the likes of Nigel Farage and Elon Musk would have you believe. So thoughtful of the world’s weirdest man to take such an interest in us poor Brits. You’d have thought he had enough on his plate running the new department of government efficiency for Donald Trump. He could start by sacking himself. That would save several hundred thousand dollars.

Taking the Lead by John Crace is published by Little, Brown (£18.99). To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

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