Party Politics

  • Starmer faces a tough challenge to his political life

    The Prime Minister is said to be on his way out. This means leaders in waiting are jostling for a position that probably won’t go to Andy Burnham MP (Makerfield/Labour) now, because the opportunity has opened up.

    How things unfold depends on where the Labour party thinks it is. A landslide win hasn’t shored up public support for Sir Keir Starmer in the way he felt it might. This brings a concern that, internally, things are not holding up to scrutiny.

    What sort of party discipline is needed may determine the outcome of a leadership race.

    Starmer is determined, believing he has the real platform. He’s a moralistic, minded man in private and while this doesn’t translate into lectures, he appeals to the faithful by making clear decisions by it. His next move will communicate his support or denial of Labour party values, proving if he’s still their man in Number 10, or if he’s gone soft.

    Next, there are potential candidates for a takeover that would scandalise the political world.

    Yvette Cooper MP (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley/Labour) is a clear contender for first female Labour Prime Minister, but she’s at a distance from Number 10. Her brief, usually, sends her out and doesn’t keep her as close to domestic issues as people believe. If this is a positive or negative for party strategists is entirely their own calculation.

    Dan Jarvis MP (Barnsley North/Labour) is a clear winner for internal ideologues, and some external support bases. He represents a white male reality, though, and this may lead to further problems. Labour doesn’t want their radical roots to be a problem-maker for their chances in central government.

    Finally, Shabana Mahmood MP (Birmingham Ladywood/Labour) as Home Secretary has backed key new reforms to Policing, putting her out there as a favoured candidate for those following the madness at home everywhere. While Muslim and keen on security and social issues, her stance may aggravate yet more unnecessary debate. It’s a risk the party may take into account.

    The reality is that the Prime Minister has said nothing, so we have to wait for a clear indication.

    The party itself is nursing a large majority in the Commons, and believes it has ideas that can last it a while longer in the difficult and unpredictable world of the Civil Service. The renewed push of Starmer or the refreshing zeal of a new leader will be their hope for more gains while in power.

  • If an election were held today…

    The state of UK politics is a many and varied thing right now, and more separated into camps than ever before. As the Labour party fight among themselves at the very top and a part of the way down, they leave an open gap for more jostling for position by the others.

    The Liberal Democrats have got a chance at another Coalition Government, in my view, but maybe this is our only paradigm for them at present. As 2010 fades even more into the history books, they may want a larger slice of the pie, but how is this possible right now?

    The Conservatives are more ready to return than the other parties, feeling weaker on the front benches because of a lack of support from behind. They need a comeback story, too, to put to bed the aspirations of the Labour party as they’re feeling emboldened right now.

    Reform UK requires a mention due to their staggering gains in Wales and Scotland, but England is proving to be a tougher league of politics. They may want more, but their ‘newness’ against the experience of the Conservatives (now there’s a fright about) may keep them away from power a while longer.

  • Dire politics has made a rude return to the scene

    What’s becoming clear is that basic constitutional politics is not understood in the UK, and it’s beginning to affect a lot of common activity. One symptom is the total confusion of events and the scene at the door of Number 10 anytime there’s a problem.

    The many competing figures in Commons politics is becoming Olympian in its size and scope. Even a notorious criminal is attempting a reentry for a regime of sorts of his own. The calamity is a clamour for more than the UK can reasonably aim for or collect in reality.

    The ruin of real politics into word plays and ideas structures is also revealing a tendency to attract trouble. There’s a personality politics that’s a flaw rather than just a fault in the system. The scourge of wording things out has lost us crucial progress on a national level.

    A return to what the constitution is will save us from madness. We can’t live on bread alone. How things are done isn’t supposed to read as a weekly guide to re-writing ideology with changes if a lawless freak tells us so. That isn’t government. It’s the madness of crowds.

  • Westminster Week: Labour day

    Monday

    Lord Mandelson Documents Statement

    American prostitute-racketeer Jeffrey Epstein resumes his prominent position in the Chamber. New documents take us through the appointment of Peter Mandelson, however, who’s life can now go down as a new version of The Social Network, minus the social network. Of course, Mandelson the street pisser is guilty of no such crime of prostitution – either pimping or paying for – but he’s guilty of knowing the same. The Bible opines about bad company. The bruise is duly on his head.

    *

    Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar/Conservatives) lays into the Government’s failure to review documents associated with Peter Mandelson. David Lammy MP (Tottenham/Labour) is nowhere to be seen. It was his job at the front in the relevant time period. In hindsight, why hasn’t he left his position? Makes you think…

    *

    Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North/Your Party) rises to make false allegations against an American business – again. He’s one of our worst politicians at present. The fact many UK citizens want to bury the defence sector giant for criminal gain is lost on him. Always a stalwart for criminal politics, the bargain hunter is back for more fraudulent wins after a short time away from his absurdist throne. This one is during the Ukraine-Russia war, as well. Shameless.

    Wednesday

    Prime Minister’s Questions

    The Leader of the Opposition reiterates her belief that the Labour party is the problem. It couldn’t be clearer.

  • Labour culture reveals a lack of purpose

    It’s more likely that random, international sets of causes will emerge from the Labour benches than the Conservative.

    While a mix of views may come from Reform UK MPs, and possibly others (like the Greens), it’s Labour that has a problem with confusion in its politics.

    It hasn’t tightened its ranks as much as it may feel it has, bringing into question what it took to get such a large election win.

    Many strategists wonder at the chaos that ensues. Andy “The Madman” Burnham is a bad choice for UK politics. He’s not respected, and is feared for his crimes.

    The so-called leadership election has pulled him out as the best so far. It embarrasses Labour figures who urge their members to do better than repeat the past.

    The disarray in issues and personalities is long overdue for review. This cannot be sustained over and against a large population with more pressing matters.

  • Westminster Week: Getting things going

    Monday

    King’s Speech Debate

    In launching out on the Enhancing Financial Services Bill, John Glen MP (Salisbury/Conservatives) makes a quip, that for the 1,640 days he was in office (Government, we presume, not his own) he got to know the issue fairly well. After having lamented the fact of seven or so ministers he’s seen as economic secretaries since – saying “I fully concede there were several from my party” – he makes his position clear. He believes such a position is “important to securing enduring growth”, but with this Parliament, it may be a case of enduring love.

    Tuesday

    Sarah Pochin MP (Runcorn & Helsby/Reform UK) says there’s an injustice in the suggestion of fast-tracking trials of arrests at the Unite The Kingdom rally in central London over the weekend. This is because the same has not been said about historic child sex abuse cases – a cause dear to the heart of many in her party – that she knows about. They may say it’s not the same issue in a judicial context, of course, but it’s politics nonetheless, and where there’s hypocrisy, there’s always another way.

    Wednesday

    Prime Minister’s Questions

    The Leader of the Opposition is on top form, providing ample points and punches to knock out the Prime Minister on his own ground. She’s right – the Labour party is the problem right now, not just him and his few friends.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • Reform UK seek upsurge in MPs next

    The success of a partial set of local elections last week is guiding enthusiasm in Reform UK for yet more – and greater – gains on a national level.

    According to insider reports, the party hopes to be on course for 82 seats at a general election in the near future.

    It’s an aggregate number formed by using people’s predictions and own reasoning on the matter.

    It may place it above the Liberal Democrats as current standings go, but it excludes any further votes that would go to them if a reaction was felt necessary by voters.

  • Badenoch has an election to fight

    The Conservatives feel like they’ve got a noble fight in politics.

    It isn’t a retiring party. It doesn’t sit on history like it’s a treasure chest. It doesn’t hold to values that died off with the past, in that it seeks to prosper the present too.

    This drives it to understand Parliament and to improve the way legislation is made.

    The present condition of its benches needs looking at, then. It can’t sustain a decent opposition on its present numbers.

    This is the case if Reform UK win a significant number of MPs in a future election.

    Labour have endured a beating, but have also proved they’ve got a way of coming back. If it can manage itself properly, it will exert influence at the ballot box.

    This is the plan, anyhow.

    What the Conservative party does next is crucial, because there’s a lot of potential in Number 10 to bring change.

    It needs to target constituencies that can be productive and hold potential already, rather than just the likelihood of a win.

    Reform UK now has a foothold in areas that can help it along, to prepare for power and prove itself to be responsible.

    While the Tories already have a reputation like this, its leadership now has to prove it can invest more resources into doing it.

  • Reform UK bring it home for a popular rebuke

    Reform UK has changed its fortune’s virtually overnight by winning big in both Wales and Scotland’s national elections. Even though they tie in second place with Labour in Scotland with 17 MSPs, it’s their first big splash into politics in the nation. It’s a strong hand to start with.

    Total number of representatives in national Parliament’s to date (Image credit/source: xAI Grok/Original)​.
    Total number of representatives in national parliament’s to date (Image credit/source: xAI Grok/original).

    It shows their prospects as a party can improve as they match performance with major political parties in places not necessarily seen to be their heartland. In fact, it suggests that the London-based party has a utility beyond a narrowly defined support base.

    *A change was made to update the image caption.

  • Locally, politics now needs to work out

    Beyond the fringe noise of constant protest, local politics now needs to come into its own.

    Whatever the level or structure (and at times these need review to improve the process) the public are in need of control over their imminent affairs.

    The outcome of today’s local elections, including Mayoralty positions, is fundamental to realising it.

    The renewed or replacement candidates drive key decision making and determine the look and feel of our local communities.

    The characterful among us can bring out more understanding to enrich a dimension that’s ethical in local politics.

    Such is the cry because people feel misunderstood, and thus underrepresented.

    Otherwise, everyone who succeeds is looked to for the investment of time in the detail of any changes and the effort to renew all of the obligations that make it work.

    The decline of parts of the UK can be put into reverse by such attention given to it.

  • Tories face challenge at the locals tomorrow

    The local elections tomorrow are a huge challenge for the Conservatives as they hope to steer clear of a total washout in support.

    They don’t want to end up at the mercy of Farage if he gets a landslide for his slate of candidates, sees an opportunity for increasing a Westminster seat share, and hammers them later.

    They don’t have a strong local support base at present, either, unlike Labour or Reform UK. Both have made efforts to keep a close appeal to issues that matter in Council areas across the UK.

    It’s hard not to notice that anything touching on community concerns is right at the top of many people’s priority list.

    Also, they only have a national appeal due to time they’ve spent in the Commons keeping the Opposition argument alive.

    They struggle to stay afloat in a rowdy Parliament. Albeit Prime Minister’s Questions has gone well on balance, Labour are having a much easier time of it.

  • Labour may not boot Starmer, but they’re mad furious

    The Labour party likes a strong leadership, one that holds together in the most trying times. The fact its blown apart in the Foreign Office and in Number 10 has left many fuming. The bad press is even worse for its voters, coming in just before the local elections and showing the worst side of the party possible.

    Labour may not boot Starmer, but he’s got to avoid another scandal like this one. It’s not a strong pitch for remaining in office, even for the bigwigs in the party that look at who should be leader next. Their opinion is that big decisions on appointments need to be done well, albeit they differ on which ones.

  • Prime Minister’s Questions

  • Jenrick shows his best in Newark

    Robert Jenrick was welcomed into the Reform UK fold early this evening with an event that specially marked his defection and signified the initiation of a forward drive for the party hoping to achieve more than triumph in the polls.

    His declaration of support for Nigel Farage solidified a long held ambition for Clacton’s famous MP. He’s tried many times before to enter Parliament, but his success in 2024 was only the beginning of seeking to fulfil his real dreams.

    Robert Jenrick MP (Newark/Reform UK) shows his rhetorical skills for Nigel Farage MP (Clacton/Reform UK).

    Farage has told many like Jenrick of his pip for power as something that drives him as an Englishman, and he says it’s grounded in values that he’s felt and picked up on across the country during his prolonged career on the political stage.

    Jenrick is of a similar hue and glistens with vision in his own eyes, and so the two are bedfellows. The progress of his beliefs in the party may be at odds at times with those that are less progressive, but he has the same spirit as the party membership has as well.