The crisis convulsing the Labour government is remarkable for its focus on process and personality rather than substantive policy. It was triggered by Catherine West, a backbench MP who initially sought to replace the prime minister without a leadership election but now says she might vote to keep Sir Keir Starmer. In her original interview, she offered scant rationale for ousting him, merely stating: “We need to bring on the person who can really sell Labour values and sell our programme.” This implied that the party’s poor showing in the English local elections might be remedied by a better communicator at the helm.
Vague Criticisms from Plotters
Most other plotters who have pushed the prime minister to the brink have been no more specific. Wes Streeting, in his resignation letter, spoke of a “vacuum” and “drift.” Those who quit junior posts offered vague references to a “lack of values-driven leadership from the centre,” the need for “bold, radical action,” and a failure to act with “the vision, pace and ambition that our mandate for change demands.” Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, promised to “change Labour for the better and make it a party you can believe in again” if he returns to the House of Commons, but offered no details on how this would be achieved.
Jess Phillips’ Specific Allegation
The exception was Jess Phillips, who resigned as safeguarding minister accusing Sir Keir of stalling her attempt to introduce technology to “stop children being able to take naked photos of themselves” on smartphones. While there may be valid arguments against this proposal, it is a serious allegation, and the prime minister’s failure to respond is disappointing. Otherwise, the agitation to remove Sir Keir has been woefully short of suggestions for what the government should do differently, even as critics agree that a mere change at the top is insufficient.
Key Issues Ignored
Oil Prices and Economic Shock
The first issue that ought to be addressed is the delayed effect of the Strait of Hormuz closure. Higher oil prices loom like a lowering storm, set to break on British shores in coming weeks. Chancellor Rachel Reeves used unexpectedly strong first-quarter growth figures to argue against regicide, but she was discussing the past. Those encouraging numbers will be swept away by the global shock of higher energy prices. Yet Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, insists on closing British production and importing more oil and gas—a stance that seems utterly wrongheaded, yet he is still touted as a potential candidate for No 10.
Brexit and Trade
Then there is the trading relationship with Europe. Negotiating a “softer” Brexit deal should be one of the government’s easier wins to protect living standards, but candidates jostling for Sir Keir’s job have failed to outline how they would deliver it. Wes Streeting, in a speech to the Progress conference, declared that “leaving the European Union was a catastrophic mistake.” While this may please Labour Party members who vote in a leadership election, it is needlessly insulting to millions who voted for national sovereignty and irrelevant to the practical question of lowering cross-Channel trade barriers.
Migration Crisis
As for cross-Channel migration, Sir Keir can be criticised for failing to reduce small boat crossings, just as Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak did. Yet this does not seem to be Labour’s problem with his leadership. The British people demand that small boats be stopped, but none of the pretenders to Sir Keir’s office have offered solutions. Streeting, in his speech, called for “a battle of ideas, not personalities.” He is absolutely right. But let us hear those ideas—or let Sir Keir get on with tackling the big challenges facing this country.
