Losing support is not uncommon for a new government – but Labours woes look dire. Starmer has moved to the right in an attempt to ward off Reform, and it is not working. The RWPress has had a field day with the impending budget which will definitely include tax rises and be met with howls of pain (and delight!) by the press, whatever it is unlikely to be met with anything approaching sympathy or delight – by anyone! Basically Starmer lost out when he refused to raise tax for the very rich – it was generally accepted that the last government were beyond useless and had left a gigantic mess – but over a year later things do not seem to have got better. Starmer has allowed Farage to set the agenda with weekly press meetings. Reform have fucked up in many councils – Labour should be capitalising on this, as should Davey and Polanski. The Tories are doomed at the moment – Badenoch trying to pretend she has support and Jenprick pretending that he is not about to join Reform.
So who can Labour turn to? Streeting is mentioned but lacks socialist credentials – surely a must for a Labour leader- even Blair had some! Milliband is a possibility but has a ‘been there and got the t-shirt” look, it is probably too soon for Rayner to reinvent herself, although she could break records for Daily Mail front pages? Shabana Mahmood is too right wing, has not shown leadership at the Home Office and Middle England is still a racist country. So labour will, after the Budget, plummet even further in the polls. My prediction is that Reform will gain and Starmer will move further to the right. Will Polanski have enough volunteers to do a Mamdani? I sincerely hope so. A Green Party/Your Party coalition whould be great for the UK. Will anyone give Gen Z an optimistic future?