Starmer’s Kama Sutra Joke Sparks Backlash Amid U‑Turn Criticism
London, UK — Prime Minister Keir Starmer made headlines this week after a controversial joke in Parliament drew strong reactions from politicians and the public, at a time when his government is under fire for reversing several key policies.
At a session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Starmer responded to criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who was attacking his government’s record on policy U‑turns — including the decision to water down plans to make digital ID cards mandatory for workers. In his reply, Starmer attempted humour and said:
“They had more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra.”
The joke was meant to mock the number of leadership changes and ministerial posts within the Conservative Party over recent years, referring to the Kama Sutra, an ancient text about love and intimacy.
While some MPs laughed in the House of Commons, the comment quickly became viral online — and not all reactions were positive. Critics described the joke as awkward or ill‑judged, saying it drew attention away from serious political debate and instead focused on a crude punchline.
The backlash came on a day when Starmer was also facing criticism over government policy changes, particularly the rollback of the digital ID plan that had been one of his signature proposals. The policy, originally promoted as a way to tighten right‑to‑work checks, was scaled back after widespread public and political opposition, marking what opponents called another example of a policy reversal.
Opposition politicians seized on both the joke and the U‑turns to argue that the prime minister is struggling to show clear leadership. At PMQs, Badenoch called Starmer “clueless” over the digital ID reversal, saying his government seemed inconsistent and lacking direction.
Supporters of Starmer, however, say government decisions to adjust policies in response to public concern are a normal part of democratic governance and that humor has long been used in parliamentary exchanges — though not always without controversy.
For now, the Kama Sutra remark has become one of the most talked‑about moments of the week in UK politics, illustrating how even a light‑hearted comment can inflate into a political news story when confidence and consistency are already under scrutiny.