Labour relaunch: Keir Starmer needs to stop campaigning and get on with his job

Keir Starmer needs to learn from the People’s Front of Judea’s mistakes

In the Monty Python film Life of Brian, the People’s Front of Judea springs into action on hearing Brian is set to be crucified. “Right,” says Reg, “this calls for immediate discussion...”

At the time, it was a biting satire of left-wing politicians’ fondness for passing meaningless, symbolic motions. It’s no longer just a habit of those on the left.

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Three months after he became Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak laid out his “five pledges”: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce government debt, cut NHS waiting lists, and “stop the boats”. Inflation did halve, thanks largely to the Bank of England, but the other goals were missed.

The country needs less talk and more action from Keir Starmer (Picture: Darren Staples/WPA pool)The country needs less talk and more action from Keir Starmer (Picture: Darren Staples/WPA pool)
The country needs less talk and more action from Keir Starmer (Picture: Darren Staples/WPA pool) | Getty Images

Missions, ‘my first steps’, milestones

Similarly, we have become accustomed to unfulfilled SNP pledges, on dualling the A9, closing the educational attainment gap, and reducing carbon emissions.

Last year, Keir Starmer launched his “five missions”. Then, ahead of the July election, we were treated to another document, with the odd title of “my first steps”.

All well and good, Starmer was telling us what he was going to do if he became Prime Minister. However, yesterday saw him announce six new “milestones”, accompanied by a document that looked suspiciously like an election manifesto.

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This appears to have been a response to Labour’s rather rocky start to government and its falling poll ratings. However, relaunches like this tend to put a spotlight on a government’s problems and also use up a considerable amount of time that should instead be spent on actually making things happen.

‘Stop gabbing on about it’

The idea that the public is suddenly going to look upon Labour differently because they’ve made some new commitments about the economy, housebuilding, the NHS and so on is for the birds. Much like the SNP’s independence papers or Sunak’s pledges – apart from “stop the boats” – no one will remember them in five weeks, let alone five years when the next election is due.

Starmer and Labour need to forget the political noise, such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s call for an election, stop campaigning and get to work. Or, in the words of the PFJ’s Francis: “Just stop gabbing on about it. It’s completely pointless and it’s getting us nowhere.”

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