Keir Starmer will no longer scrap tuition fees. Just what does his Labour Party stand for?
No leader of a major party has so comprehensively junked their leadership platform in British democratic history, says Guardian columnist Ow
“No leader of a major political party has so comprehensively junked their leadership platform in British democratic history. When Tony Blair ran for leader in 1994, he did not pose as a Bennite before abruptly shifting rightwards. Blair’s broad vision for both party and country was clear from the start. To Gordon Brown’s credit, he had a much clearer set of political values than Starmer, but was unable to translate that into a clear offer when he became prime minister. ‘You’d imagine that after 10 years of waiting, and 10 years complaining about Tony, we would have some idea of what we are going to do, but we don’t seem to have any policies,’ one of his lieutenants complained at the time. The result? His government was buffeted by events, ending up in a perpetual tailspin.
“This risks being the fate of a Starmer government. It would come to power in far more adverse circumstances than Brown suffered: the legacy of 14 years of slash-and-burn cuts, neglected services and infrastructure, a collapsing NHS and falling living standards. Without a clear sense of purpose, let alone answers to basic questions – where will the money come from to pay for rebuilding public services across the board? – crisis and disappointment may swiftly follow.
“Having a clear vision isn’t some nerdy abstraction for wonks: it’s what keeps a government anchored, rather than drifting at the mercy of circumstance. And so Starmer’s deceit may have bought him the leadership of his party, but may well sink him in government.”
