With Keir Starmer stepping down after less than two years in office, it's worth taking a moment to remember some of the highlights of his brief but remarkably chaotic tenure.

And by "highlights," I mean the moments that made half the country wonder whether the British government had completely lost its mind.

5. The Great Green Daydream

Starmer spent much of his time assuring Britons that they could simultaneously shut down domestic energy production, pursue increasingly aggressive climate targets, and somehow emerge wealthier than before.

It was the classic progressive "lose weight by eating more cake" political narrative.

He consistently seemed more enthusiastic about impressing climate conferences than ensuring affordable and reliable energy for ordinary families.

4. The War on Free Speech

To be clear, the United Kingdom already had a speech problem before Starmer arrived.

He just managed to put it on steroids.

Britons found themselves questioned by police over social media posts, offensive comments, and various forms of wrongthink even as horrific crimes went unpunished (see below). Stories involving police investigations over tweets and online speech became so common they barely qualified as news anymore.

Because nothing says "liberal democracy" quite like officers showing up at your door because someone got upset at you online.

3. Equal Justice, Terms and Conditions Apply

One of the most damaging developments of the Starmer years was the growing perception that laws were being enforced differently depending on who was breaking them.

When farmers protested, authorities suddenly discovered enthusiasm for enforcement. But when activists blocked roads, disrupted events, or caused public disorder, officials often seemed far more interested in understanding their grievances.

Fair or not, millions of Britons increasingly concluded that equal justice under the law was becoming more of a slogan than a reality.

2. Canceling the Solution

One of Starmer's first major acts was killing the Rwanda deportation plan, assuring everyone he and his party had a better solution.

• Then the Channel crossings continued.

• The asylum hotels continued.

• The violence continued.

• The public frustration continued.

• And Nigel Farage continued shaking his head.

Not unlike the situation in America, Britain's leaders were determined to persist in discussing immigration forever while doing as little as possible about it.

1. The Grooming Gang Reckoning

Nothing comes close to this.

As inquiry after inquiry revealed the scale of the grooming gang scandal, the public learned more about the repeated failures of police, local governments, social services, and political leaders.

• Parents warned authorities.

• Victims reported abuse.

• Evidence accumulated.

• Opportunities to intervene came and went.

Yet for years many officials appeared more concerned about accusations of racism than protecting vulnerable girls. I recently wrote about it here.

The damage to public trust may never fully be repaired.

Starmer entered office with one of the largest parliamentary majorities in modern British history. Less than two years later, he's gone.

To be fair, that in itself is an impressive accomplishment, though likely not in the way he intended.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.