Keir Starmer’s conference speech has rescued him from leadership challenges, for now; such appears to be the consensus opinion. Starmer certainly managed a stronger, more personable delivery than his more typical rabbit-in-the-headlights stance. But one minister told Channel 4 News that the mood amongst MPs was still sulphurous. And former shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, … [Read more...] about Does Starmer have a vision?
Starmer Y1: what now for Scotland and a fractured union?
As the mostly scathing assessments of Keir Starmer’s first year of government roll in, the UK’s Labour government looks wobbly and lacking direction. After his disastrous, deeply inept week on disability benefits reform, perhaps the most common question remains, what does Starmer actually believe in? Starmer, in remarkably Soviet style, seems above all to believe – in some … [Read more...] about Starmer Y1: what now for Scotland and a fractured union?
Insurgent, disruptive or flailing Labour?
When key Labour advisers, and the prime minister himself, are throwing around consultancy-speak words like disruption and insurgency then it’s clear the government has a deep problem. It doesn’t actually know what it's there for, let alone how to be popular – and the feeble, ever narrower repetition of the word ‘growth’, as growth stalls, is not helping. Keir Starmer told his … [Read more...] about Insurgent, disruptive or flailing Labour?
Hope and powerlessness: the world in new year 2025
The new year can be a time of hope, of fresh starts. But given the state of our world, the continuing genocide in Gaza, Russia’s war in Ukraine, war in Sudan, the right-wing backlash against vital climate action, hope is in short supply. And when we start to feel hopeless, that is surely intertwined with a sense of powerlessness. And yet, we have phrases that push us forward – … [Read more...] about Hope and powerlessness: the world in new year 2025
The EU and UK under Trump 2.0
Almost a week after Donald Trump’s election victory, are European leaders any clearer on their strategic reaction to the ever-deteriorating geopolitical environment and the implications of his victory? Or, amidst EU divisions on a range of issues, is the EU – not very strategically – just waiting to see how bad Trump 2.0 proves to be? After the flurry of congratulations from … [Read more...] about The EU and UK under Trump 2.0