A Tale of Two Socialists
Why Spain’s Sánchez has succeeded while Britain’s Starmer floundered.
This tale contrasts two socialist leaders, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Starmer, who recently resigned after less than two years in office, contrasts sharply with Sánchez, who has been in power for eight years. Starmer's Labour Party, which won a landslide victory in the 2024 elections, has struggled to maintain unity, while Sánchez leads a fragile coalition government that includes the conservative People's Party.
Sánchez has weathered a variety of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, far-right political parties, corruption scandals, and wildfires. In contrast, Britain has struggled to recover economically following the pandemic, with growth only reaching 1.3% in 2025.
Historical context plays a role in the leaders' fates. Spain has enjoyed political stability since the introduction of a democratic constitution in 1978, while Britain has seen frequent political turnover. Ideological cohesion within the Spanish left is strong, with Sánchez's coalition supporting immigration, European integration, and opposing the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
In contrast, Britain's Labour Party seems divided, particularly on immigration and the war in Iran, which has led to criticism from within the party. Starmer's leadership has been criticized for lacking vision and nerve, with many members expressing disappointment. Sánchez's leadership, on the other hand, is seen as a model for left-wing politicians, demonstrating how to succeed in a hostile environment.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
