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?
UK Labour
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?
Starmer can’t afford to be cautious
Two fears should haunt Labour this coming year and how it responds will determine the size of its majority and its ability to govern effectively. Labour fears another defeat and this inclines it to be ultra-cautious. It should also fear having to govern an economy and society in need of bold action. Managing the competing demands of caution and boldness will be a major theme … [Read more...] about Starmer can’t afford to be cautious
Forget the tough talk and flag waving, Labour
If projections can be relied on, Labour has good reason to feel confident of supplanting the Conservatives as biggest party at the next general election. Yet it remains far from clear that Keir Starmer is heading for a House of Commons majority. A Tory-to-Labour swing of 4.5% in 2023’s local elections in England fell marginally short of the 5% switch-around he needs to enter … [Read more...] about Forget the tough talk and flag waving, Labour