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The torment of the life of politics. Look around that cabinet table: every minister is confronted with near impossible portfolios without the means to do what they understand is needed.

The legacy they received was even more ruinous than anticipated: they were bequeathed landmines, dishonest traps and enormous voids. The EU departure is proving to be more financially damaging than expected, now losing the exchequer £80bn each year.

The Obstacles Building

They suffer from unfortunate circumstances: the Trump destroyer landed on their watch. What greater disaster than a jail staff member releasing a rejected refugee sex offender? Channel migrants feel unstoppable.

A poorly timed leadership contest at this moment was destined to give the Prime Minister a setback. The minimal electoral backing at the Welsh parliament byelection might not even be their nadir.

They anticipate brickbats, but they have feelings. Typically, the Health Secretary dares say what all can see: that exists "deep disillusionment in this country at the moment" and "a growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round".

Voter Perception Puzzles

Nevertheless, the present hostile state of voter perception is puzzling and worrying. Keir Starmer is the most disliked prime minister ever. Actually?

He is a respectable, earnest individual of good intentions, lacking excessive pride or vanity. Measure this against the Conservative leader, the short-lived PM, or the casual assumption of the ex-Prime Minister, all with so little to justify conceited self-confidence.

Political Obstacles

However, voters claim, the Labour leader is more ineffective. As the nation's leader, he demonstrates little personal magnetism, they say: more seriously, he doesn't possess political agility, ingenuity or understanding of public sentiment.

The party erred regarding reductions to pensioners and disabled people, unbalanced by expanded benefits in different sectors. Uncertain which voters to appeal to, ministers have permitted good policies uncelebrated, including employment protections to sustainable development, urban development and employment assurances for young people.

Political Strategy

Too many close advisers still think the Daily Mail-inflected right demands attention, when almost twice as many voters have shifted progressive since the election was won. Survey specialist John Curtice advises the party to abandon courting Farage supporters: they've gone.

Labour's leader is underperforming; this cannot be disputed when pollsters suggest no individual might ever return from such unprecedented lows.

However, within unprecedented territory of such extreme volatility, history may be no guide. Starmer pulled Labour from the period following Corbyn state of despair that c conventional wisdom suggested couldn't be reversed in a single parliament.

Future Possibilities

Could another leader perform more effectively, or has society entered a virtually unmanageable, never-content citizenry? All ruling parties may be opposed with similar speed after taking office, regardless of electoral margin, except if it comes bearing quick fixes offering substantial benefits for stricken public services and financially strained households.

Unsurprisingly, anxiety among MPs will make talk of leadership change commonplace if May's elections go as badly as predicted – or, some suggest, earlier.

Future Directions

Here's ministers' paradox: Labour's only hope resides in hopelessness. Assume they will be overwhelmed anyway, so use this massive majority for the remainder of the term to pursue their inherent left-leaning values: implement substantial tax changes, generating substantial revenue.

Expect to lose subsequent votes, so implement all policies immediately. Disregard popularity ratings and focus groups; let voters see sincerity in their purpose. The sole method to restore some respect is to execute clearly what they believe most correct and reasonable.

• Public trust has become crucial to rescue the country from crisis
• The obvious message from the recent election showed the significant "stop Reform" impulse
• Over 60% of unusually high engagement mobilizing to keep Faragists out
• Such strategy demands mass tactical voting for the most viable opposition candidate

The Chancellor rightly calls Reform "the most significant danger" to British values. As the opposition effectively combine with Reform, a political alliance of certain type looms.

Labour's duty is to do whatever it takes to prevent it. Prepare for coalition, be acceptable to progressive partners when the name of the party becomes secondary to the fundamental boundary against a political danger unprecedented in modern history.

Such is an objective to drive out despair.