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Sir Keir Starmer was accused of dodging the issue of Brexit in a high-stakes speech aimed at saving his premiership as allies and rivals alike circled an increasingly embattled Downing Street operation. Following the Prime Minister's address in Waterloo, Daily Express commentator Martyn Brown provided a frank analysis.

Mr Brown said Mr Starmer had failed to confront the "key issue" hanging over his Government-Britain's future relationship with Europe-while appearing "hamstrung" politically as pressure mounted from within Labour ranks. The Prime Minister delivered what Mr Brown described as a "make-or-break speech" after catastrophic local election results, mounting backbench unrest, and growing speculation over possible successors.

Reflecting on the Prime Minister's precarious position, Mr Brown said: "He's in major trouble, major trouble.

"The vultures are circling, there are major threats to his time in Number 10."

Sir Keir attempted to reset his premiership with a 20-minute address in which he promised change, repeatedly attacking the "status quo" and portraying Labour as a government prepared to take radical action.

Appearing without a tie or jacket, with "sleeves rolled up," the Prime Minister gave what Mr Brown described as a "kind of passionate speech for Starmer," speaking personally about his family and praising his wife as "a rock."

However, Mr Brown argued there was little substance behind the rhetoric. Doubting the impact of the address, he said: "He's trying to convince Labour MPs, Labour supporters that he's going to change things around. But there wasn't that much evidence in it."

Mr Brown claimed the biggest policy announcement was a pledge to nationalise British steel, although he noted the proposal remained "subject to a few hoops that it's got to jump through." He also pinpointed the most glaring omission from the speech: Brexit.

Regarding the lack of clarity, Mr Brown said: "As I mentioned on Brexit, he didn't really go there, to be honest." Explaining the Prime Minister's hesitation, he continued: "He's a bit hamstrung because Europe won't let him do what he wants to do at this stage."

The Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted he will not seek to reverse Brexit formally, but has also spoken about building closer ties with the EU ahead of a forthcoming UK-EU summit.

Mr Brown argued Sir Keir was attempting to straddle both sides of the argument. Warning of a hidden agenda, he said: "He says he wants to put Britain at the heart of Europe. But we all know that he's trying to unpick Brexit, and he won't stop there. This is just the latest staging post for him."

The PM was also criticised for failing to explain how Labour would tackle Britain's economic problems or reduce welfare spending.

Highlighting the lack of detail, Mr Brown said: "He didn't really get into how he's going to fix the economy other than saying that he's going to do it."

The speech came amid reports of growing unrest among Labour MPs after bruising local election losses in England, Wales, and Scotland. Mr Brown referred to threats of a leadership challenge from Labour backbencher Catherine West, claiming she was speaking for "40-odd Labour MPs" unhappy with the Prime Minister's direction.

While he suggested the speech may buy Sir Keir time, he argued the long-term outlook remained bleak. Questioning the speech's efficacy, Mr Brown stressed: "I think it means he possibly survives today, maybe this week, but it's not really done much to change the dial."

Dismissing the Prime Minister's authority, Mr Brown said: "This is a Prime Minister who is, he's not in control anymore, he's not in charge." Senior Labour figures including Angela Rayner, Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, and Ed Miliband were increasingly influential, he warned.

He added: "They're all kind of calling the shots now." Attention is now turning to whether any of Labour's big beasts could move against the Prime Minister if his position deteriorates further.

Mr Brown further suggested Mr Streeting "could go early" in any leadership contest to block Mr Burnham, who is currently not an MP, from entering the race. Meanwhile, Sir Keir was said to have focused much of his political fire not on the Conservatives but on rivals to Labour's Left and Right.

Noting the shift in targets, Mr Brown said: "He didn't really reference the Conservatives but he did reference Nigel Farage and Zack Polanski and the Greens."

As speculation over Labour's future intensifies, Mr Brown concluded: "As it stands at lunchtime on Monday, Keir Starmer is still Prime Minister, but we don't know how much longer for."