A commentator has argued that Labour would benefit from more politicians like Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood rather than Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, following the party's loss to the Greens in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Rayner responded to the defeat by calling for Labour to be "braver", while Mahmood pressed ahead with replacing permanent asylum with temporary status, defying those in her party who favour more liberal immigration policies.
Mahmood's approach is inspired by Denmark's Social Democrats, who prioritised "firm but fair" immigration controls over the support of liberal voters. The commentator praised Mahmood's leadership as "courageous, charismatic and can-do", contrasting it with Rayner's "attention-seeking waffle". Chancellor Rachel Reeves was also commended for keeping the young people's minimum wage below the 21+ rate to avoid pricing young people out of jobs.
The piece criticised the notion that Labour should lurch leftwards in response to the by-election defeat, describing Green Party policies such as legalising heroin and leaving Nato as "absurd". It pointed out contradictions in Green ideology, citing a YouGov poll where Green voters were the most likely to support military retaliation if Donald Trump seized Greenland.
Dan Carden, the former Corbynite now leading the "Blue Labour" caucus, said the issue was not about the Greens or Reform but about answering what Labour is for and who it is for. He stressed the need to act on rents, bills, and exploitation to give people hope and dignity. Liam Byrne, chair of the business and trade committee, suggested Labour should "pick some fights with bad actors" like Fujitsu and energy companies to counter Green populism with Labour populism.
The commentator concluded that Labour's problems stem from preparedness, the Tory inheritance, competence, judgement, and leadership, not a left-right divide. They noted that party rules allow unrepresentative members to choose the next leader, compounding the leadership issue.
