As businesses around the world continue to deal with technical issues with Microsoft computers following a faulty software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, Twitter/X users are scratching their heads at suggestions that this is the “first crisis” facing UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The clarification was revealed by Sky News in a tweet on Friday promoting a piece by chief political correspondent John Craig, which said: “The honeymoon is over: Global IT outage is Sir Keir Starmer’s first crisis.”
This is despite Labour’s manifesto, published last month, acknowledging crises in housing, the NHS, prisons, knife crime, the climate and the cost of living, all of which are still very pressing issues at the time of writing.
Referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Downing Street to address Starmer’s government, Craig wrote: “Was the Prime Minister and senior ministers too slow to react, distracted by their VIP guests in Downing Street? Almost certainly.”
“His good fortune was cruelly interrupted by the IT crisis.”
While a global power outage is undoubtedly a major crisis, with airports, banks, GP services and even Sky News itself affected, people on social media are questioning whether this is really the Labour leader’s first crisis and how much responsibility he bears, having only taken up the position two weeks ago.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden posted to Twitter/X about the IT crisis on Friday: “Today’s IT outage is impacting services across the country and around the world, with many people affected. Ministers are working with departments and industries to address this issue.”
“I am in close contact with the team coordinating the response through the COBR response system.”
Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle added that government departments were “working closely to understand the nature” of the outage and were responding appropriately and swiftly.
Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Louise Hague confirmed on Saturday afternoon that IT systems at Britain’s airports and trains had been “restored and operating as normal”, but said “some delays” and “a small number of flight cancellations” were still to be expected.
“We are in constant contact with the industry and there continue to be no reports of safety or security issues caused by the outage. Rail operators are no longer reporting cancellations or delays due to the IT outage,” she wrote.
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