Peter Madeley: It’s about time we heard what you have to offer, Sir Keir
Since he was elected Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer has been keen to stress that his party cannot get into power by relying on the failings of the opposition.
Indeed, at yesterday’s local elections launch he once again promised something new, saying this was a “different Labour Party making a different offer for the British people”.
The problem facing Sir Keir, is that almost 12 months since his took the reins the public are not entirely sure what that offer is.
His pitch in the last few months has relied heavily on criticising the Tories and the SNP, while being decidedly light on substance when it comes to Labour’s own plans.
Granted, we did see the bare bones of an economic policy last month in the shape of a savings bond scheme and business start-up loans, neither of which exactly caught the public’s imagination.
But this comes alongside an awful lot of fluff.
He wants to support our nurses, but won’t put a figure on the pay rise he’d give them. He insists Labour will prioritise making communities safer, ignoring the fact that in the West Midlands crime has skyrocketed under a Labour police commissioner.
Aside from attacking the Government, it is hard to fathom exactly what Labour’s approach is under Sir Keir.
It is something that party members and strategists are acutely aware of.
A recently leaked document called for Labour to bring in a new patriotic approach, including more use of the union jack, a move which enraged those on the left of the party.
Meanwhile Momentum – the hard-left campaign group seemingly trying to keep Labour out of power forever – has released its own strategy, ominously titled ‘Socialist Organising in a New Era’.
Uphill battle
In essence, many of Sir Keir’s biggest challenges are the same ones that greeted him when he became leader.
He will always be too centrist for some of the membership, many of whom would happily see the return of Jeremy Corbyn if it could be arranged.
As for the voters that deserted Labour at the last election, very little ground has been made in the uphill battle that faced him in April 2020.
The word from party insiders is that Sir Keir will start to focus more on policy once the worst of the pandemic is out of the way.
However, if Sir Keir is not careful it will all be too late.
A poor showing in May’s elections, particularly in areas such as the West Midlands, could see his job on the line.
There is already talk of a “lost year”, and other Labour figures – most notably Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – have arguably performed better on the national stage than Sir Keir has.
We know you don’t like the Tories very much, Sir Keir. Clearly, you don’t rate Boris Johnson and fancy your chances of being a more effective Prime Minister.
But if you want to take his job, don’t you think it’s about time you explained precisely how you will do things better?
