In a scathing intervention, former Labour Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett has issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, arguing that a series of policy reversals and poor communication is putting the party's future at serious risk.
The Digital ID Debacle: A Recipe for Failure
The immediate catalyst for Lord Blunkett's critique is the government's latest volte-face on digital ID cards. Ministers have abandoned a plan, announced last September, to make the cards mandatory by 2029 for anyone wishing to work in the UK. Blunkett expressed bewilderment at the move, noting the original announcement came "out of the blue" during a speech by the Prime Minister to an international audience.
He argues the policy was doomed from the start due to a complete lack of narrative or plan to explain it to the public. "Without that, they had no way to win people over to the idea," he writes. This vacuum allowed opponents to foster misunderstanding, leading to 3 million people signing an online petition against the scheme.
A Pattern of Poorly Thought-Through Policies
Blunkett, a lifelong Labour supporter, stresses that the digital ID fiasco is not an isolated incident. He points to a pattern over the past 18 months where the government launches policies without appreciating their harsh political reality or impact on electoral fortunes.
He cites three key examples:
- The Winter Fuel Allowance: Removing it from some pensioners caused worry for 10 million people but saved only a quarter of the anticipated amount.
- Farmland Inheritance Tax: A "perfectly rational" Treasury suggestion on treating farmland like other investments sparked fury over its potential impact on family farms, forcing a belated U-turn.
- Welfare Reform: The government had to step back after its own backbenchers revolted, highlighting a lack of grip from the top.
"The government, and especially the Treasury, have repeatedly made the same mistake," Blunkett states, arguing that rational policy is useless if the political price is not calculated.
The Dire Electoral Consequences of Constant U-Turns
Lord Blunkett delivers a chilling electoral forecast. He warns that if Labour fails to turn things around, it faces being "wiped out" in the May elections in Scotland and Wales, as well as in English local elections, and a potential "meltdown" at the next General Election.
He contends that the constant policy reversals—from digital ID to pub subsidies—prevent the government from delivering coherent messages to voters. The consequence, he fears, is not a return for the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch, but a victory for Nigel Farage and a movement he describes as having "the political sophistication of primary school children driving a JCB."
Blunkett's solution is clear: "Labour needs a plan." He demands that Starmer and his Cabinet never announce policies without thorough forethought, that ministers argue their case with genuine enthusiasm, and that they stick to decisions once made. "Clear decisions strongly advocated, powerfully and rapidly implemented and clearly explained must be the resolution for the years ahead," he concludes, urging the government to provide the direction and leadership the country deserves.
