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The torment of the life of politics. Look around that government frontbench: each person is grappling with exceptionally challenging portfolios devoid of the tools to do what they know is needed.

The legacy they received was more disastrous than feared: they were bequeathed landmines, misleading obstacles and enormous voids. The EU departure is emerging as more economically devastating than foreseen, resulting in the loss of the exchequer £80bn each year.

The Challenges Mounting

They suffer from poor fortune: the Trump presidency coincided with their watch. What greater disaster than a prison officer setting free a rejected refugee individual convicted of sexual crimes? Migrant crossings feel relentless.

An unfortunate internal party vote currently was bound to give Keir Starmer a setback. The minimal electoral backing at the Welsh parliament special election might not even be their worst performance.

They expect hostility, but they're only human. As often, the Health Secretary dares say what everyone observes: that we're experiencing "deep disillusionment in this country at the moment" and "a growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round".

Public Opinion Puzzles

Nevertheless, the present hostile state of popular sentiment is confusing and concerning. Keir Starmer is the least popular prime minister on record. Actually?

He is a respectable, earnest individual of positive aims, without undue arrogance or self-importance. Compare that with Boris Johnson, the short-lived PM, or the relaxed confidence of David Cameron, each achieving minimal to warrant arrogant assurance.

Leadership Challenges

However, voters claim, Starmer is worse. As the nation's leader, he demonstrates little leadership appeal, observers note: more seriously, he is missing policy adaptability, innovative approaches or instinct for where the wind blows.

The government mishandled over cuts for pensioners and disabled people, unbalanced by spending increases in other areas. Unsure which demographic to target, the party has left beneficial programs unheralded, from working rights to environmental funding, urban development and employment assurances for young people.

Governing Philosophy

An excessive number of key consultants continue to believe right-wing constituencies requires courting, when almost twice as many voters have leaned liberal since the government formed. Election expert the polling authority warns them to stop chasing Farage supporters: they're lost.

Keir Starmer is failing; there's no denying it when surveys indicate no politician would bounce back from such unprecedented lows.

But in the uncharted waters of remarkable instability, history may be no guide. The leader extracted Labour from a post-Jeremy Corbyn slough of despond that c conventional wisdom suggested couldn't be reversed in one term.

Future Possibilities

Might a different politician achieve superior results, or are we experiencing a virtually unmanageable, never-content citizenry? All ruling parties may be rejected just as rapidly following election, despite overwhelming support, except if it comes with immediate solutions offering substantial benefits for underfunded government departments and cash-strapped families.

Expectedly, panic on the back benches will make discussion about replacing the leader commonplace if the upcoming votes go as poorly as forecast – or, some suggest, earlier.

Potential Solutions

This represents the government's dilemma: The party's sole opportunity emerges from difficulty. Assume they will be overwhelmed anyway, so utilize their significant numbers for the full parliament to implement their genuine social democratic instinct: implement substantial tax changes, raising plenty.

Prepare for opposition the next election, so do everything now. Forget opinion polls and public consultations; enable the public to witness sincerity in their purpose. The exclusive approach to restore some respect is to execute clearly what they consider most right and fair.

• That respect has become essential to save the country from crisis
• The bright light from the recent election showed the strong "stop Reform" movement
• A substantial majority of unusually high engagement rallying to keep Faragists out
• That requires strategic electoral support for the strongest progressive option

Rachel Reeves rightly calls Reform "the most significant danger" to national identity. While Conservatives virtually merge with Reform, a political alliance of particular nature threatens.

Labour's duty is to do whatever it takes to block this outcome. Anticipate alliances, remain palatable for allied groups when party affiliations becomes secondary to the essential limit against a governance risk unseen in contemporary politics.

That's a purpose to overcome hopelessness.