‘Andy Burnham said he would end business as usual – he needs to mean it’
Andy Burnham was right to promise to ‘End business as usual’ is what the public wants. Now he must show he means it.
Neal Lawson
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Labour’s spurious and factional dismissal of talent and breadth needs to stop
The country is going through the agony of being governed by one political persuasion in one party. Whether in relation to the economy or politics, whenever there are complex things to do or say, monopolies no longer work. Across the globe…
Burning bridges with the Lib Dems will not kill the spectre of a coalition of chaos
‘Never burn your bridges until you come to them.' I was reminded of the old saying when Kier Starmer ruled out any agreement with the Lib Dems in a new parliament this week. And he was very specific – any agreement – even confidence and…
Labour is doing better, but not well enough to reject deals with other parties
On his tour of the Sunday politics shows, David Lammy did two things: he claimed Labour is now on course for a "comfortable majority" at the next election and ruled out any deals with any other parties. David is one of the more thoughtful…
The French elections should send a chill down the spine of every Labour member
The first round of voting for a new President of France should send chills down the spine of every Labour member and voter here in the UK. The combined vote of the soft-left Socialist Party (PS), the harder-left France Insoumis (Unbowed)…
Labour might just win office, but it will be less prepared for power than in 1997
While everyone naturally enjoys the Prime Minister's meltdown, time and attention is being deflected away from serious alternatives to the mess that the Tories and the country are in. I keep thinking about New Labour, how it won and its…
Local parties should be able to choose whether to stand a Labour candidate
The purpose of Labour is to be in government to create a better society. We have passed up on that elementary task at the last four opportunities. A record fifth straight loss would be an unprecedented disaster for the party and the…
Labour’s response to the inevitable ‘coalition of chaos’ charge is all wrong
As allegations of Tory corruption and incompetence go up, their poll lead goes down. The two main parties are neck-and-neck, putting us in hung parliament territory. While few expect Labour to win the 125 seats it needs for a majority of…
Labour must embrace pluralism – or its future looks short and bleak
Keir Starmer has given an interview to the Daily Record on his tour this week of Scotland, in which he says two very significant things. The first is to rule out any deal with the SNP before or after a general election. The second is the…
Until we reconnect power with politics, nativism will prevail
News of Labour’s plan to make use of the Union Flag in an attempt to rebrand was met with both alarm and approval. A flag may be a simple thing – some colours and shapes on a piece of cloth – but its symbolic, cultural and personal meaning…
UK Labour must reinvent itself. Local councils have already started
Labour must reinvent itself as a party of opposition. Foundations are already being laid nationally. In this, the polls only matter if they give the leadership the confidence to push on rather than freeze. The basis for future trust is…
Labour cannot afford to be outflanked on universal basic income
The Financial Times published a letter last week, signed by 110 MPs and peers, calling for a 'recovery basic income'. A spokesperson for Keir Starmer was then asked about Labour's attitude towards the idea. The reply, in effect, was: not…