Labour Party
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Westminster Week: Defensive mode
Wednesday
Labour are usually primed to defend their own, but the drama surrounding one of their (former) Peers is now too difficult to handle. The Prime Minister seems flustered by it, and as the questioning ensues, is trying to reassert his position. Of course, it’s not him that’s lost his job but someone else.
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Caught: Labour thug promoter
In a stunning exclusive for Conservative News Site, a Labour strategist alleged to promote criminal thugs into public roles and into corporate positions has now been spotted in Reading, Berkshire.
A suspect alleged of promoting criminals into public and professional positions seen here in Reading, Berkshire. She’s alleged to maintain and have in her possession lists of criminal thugs that agitate socially in the United Kingdom, fuelling far right activity and native criminal enterprise.
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Exclusive: Labour branch pervert
In an exclusive for Conservative News Site, a suspected pervert alleged of attacking Labour party members and branch supporters has now been spotted.
A suspect alleged of sexual perversion seen here in a central Reading location. He’s alleged to have started his activity in Oxfordshire, and has since been spotted in places like Bristol and Hull. He’s not safe to approach and may have accomplices.
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Labour policy is better value than energy prices
The Labour government is following in the footsteps of Sunak’s in continuing to offer discounted energy this winter.
The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero believes this is sufficient to cover the needs of the nearly six million families he says it will benefit.
Such an approach is now an old refrain in the UK, where savings and bills are a choice that many have to make. It’s also indicative of a coupon-led groupthink in central government.
The handing out of vouchers has effectively denied the public the possibility of a check on unreasonable price rises in a time when green energy now overwhelming promises to bring them down.
The low usage households among us are still stitched up with costly fees alongside fuel charges that are not marginal in the slightest.
The total amount may equal more meals for a family table, and yet this isn’t reflected in the government’s policy.
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Prescott, Labour bigwig, dies
In a post on X, the family of John Prescott, a former Labour deputy Prime Minister, announced he passed away yesterday. It’s a sad loss for a close family, city, and party who valued his unique take on politics and often bruising criticisms of opponents.
In particular, Prescott believed that public services belong in the public domain, and not as a part of private interests. He was known to have worked solidly to ensure everyone who supported the Labour cause were rewarded by its efforts, and enterprise.
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Trust in politics
There is a sense that Rishi Sunak faired poorly this time because of some overriding concerns.
They included a wacky races approach to ‘getting the job done’, started by Boris Johnson himself. He was a popular if populist figure in the Conservative Party and has only been followed by two further Prime Minister’s because his Government failed.
There’s a definite sense that a strong start needs an even stronger finish.
The other problem is the parties’ campaigning.
A recent YouGov poll conducted on 4 July asked the question, “Who do you think has run the best election campaign?”. The results aren’t surprising. Labour polls strongly at 20% but only because 5% of respondents thought the Conservatives did well. It’s an appalling outcome.
The campaigns were both bombastic and lacklustre.
In Manchester, Labour attempted a stratospheric launch with its manifesto. Sir Keir Starmer spoke proudly of his newish message of “Change”.
Meanwhile Rishi Sunak had attempted his own entry into the foray but it largely sank as soon as he set sail owing to a betting scandal.
The impact on the doorstep is measured in days not weeks, and by the looks of it Labour managed to survive the weeks long process.
In the end, the Tories achieved a ripple effect.
It showed in the eventual outcome, and on the Prime Minister’s face as he smiled gingerly at the door of Number 10 and welcomed us into his new future.
It was another lesson in political statecraft.
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Starmer’s war cabinet
Now the dust has settled on another election year, it’s victor Sir Keir Starmer has to set down to work.
His work is mostly set before him already. He’s got to fulfil the duties of any ordinary Prime Minister.
He will do the rounds of Cabinet meetings. He will turn up to Prime Minister’s Questions on a Wednesday afternoon. He’ll also attend speeches, events, and launches of key or signature policies.
It’s a lot to do. He’s got his work cut out as the UK’s busiest politician.
In the meantime Nigel Farage will barrack him from the back benches (where Reform UK will likely end up). Also other upstarts will take their opportunity to make a mark in UK politics.
It’s left to him to make sure he gets it right. A promise of ‘change’ is easy to say but hard to deliver.
Today, he appointed his ‘war’ cabinet.
Angela Rayner has taken second place as Deputy Prime Minister as well as the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Ed Miliband is the newest Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Sir Patrick Vallance – who cut his teeth during the Covid pandemic – is now the new Minister of State (Minister for Science) in the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
These are key appointments, as is Rachel Reeves – Labour’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The way ahead is set out for Starmer already. All he needs to do now is make a success of it.