Twelve months ago Sir Keir Starmer stood on the steps of Downing Street and promised to deliver “change”, “national renewal” and to “return politics to public service”, following Labour’s general election win.
On one hand, he has started to do this – delivering investment and reform in health, energy, rail and worker’s rights – but on the other, Starmer’s administration has been plagued with U-turns, fiscal pressures and freebie scandals.
So, has Labour had a successful first year in power? Columnist Ian Dunt, former Conservative chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika offer their perspective.
A year on, those tears of joy feel a dim and distant memory. No one thought government was going to be easy. But no one thought it would be this hard.
A country ravaged by the global financial crisis, austerity, Brexit, political instability, Liz Truss’s mini-Budget, an inflation crisis, weakened public services, high immigration, low growth and an exhausted, pissed off, increasingly ill and impatient public who voted for change. Layer on top of that an inflamed geopolitical climate which increasingly dictates terms with no mercy.
square IAN DUNT Labour’s first year has been a bitter disappointment – but there’s one clear solution
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There’s no denying that mistakes have been made from the political handling of the winter fuel allowance to the welfare row which has unfortunately overshadowed this Labour Government’s first anniversary. Not to mention the local election results, polls and negative headlines.
But it would be wrong not to acknowledge some of the good which often gets lost. The biggest thing the Government deserves credit for is taking long term decisions which will start to build up our critical infrastructure.
Not terribly politically expedient but absolutely the right thing to do for the future. As one of my Times Radio listeners messaged in, “We may not like them right now but their legacy may be great if we can actually get these things built”. We have lost confidence as a country when it comes to big, meaty infrastructure projects and it has held us back in practical and psychological ways for many years.
Starmer has faced criticism for spending too much time on the world stage and jetting off to summits but he has given Britain back some dignity on the world stage after the Boris Johnson Brexit years and the madness of Liz Truss.
Donald Trump is unpredictable and unreliable but that makes diplomacy with him all the more important and difficult. Starmer and his team have handled that well. Our relationship with America matters to our defence, businesses and economy. It’s important that a British prime minister has a good working relationship with the president of the USA whether we like that person or not.
It’s an important relationship, especially with the war in Ukraine. It was noted at the time that Starmer moved quickly after the appalling scenes in the White House. He had convened a gathering of European leaders and invited a bruised Volodymyr Zelensky to meet him in Downing Street at a critical juncture.
square KWASI KWARTENG I know Keir Starmer personally - he is out of his depth
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There’s a big, optimistic story here for Labour to tell about rebuilding a country. And I’ve heard it from industry and trade union leaders who have told me with great passion about what their men and women are capable of if they could just get on with it. They speak with a pride and energy which inspires and speaks to a modernity, pragmatism, patriotism and a can-do attitude. Don’t underestimate the power of good jobs and getting stuff done.
The old grid system where No 10 could try to dictate the news agenda is slipping away in this frenetic world of social media. And the old days of strong-arming backbenchers clearly isn’t working as the welfare row has shown.
This should be a moment to try to build a new modern culture in the Parliamentary Labour Party. There is a great Labour team that is willing and able to be mobilised which includes MPs, Mayors, peers, council and trade unions leaders and way beyond. But that team needs to be built with respect, some charm, time and genuine inclusion.
Starmer loves his football and knows that individuals don’t win championships, teams do. Make Labour politics a team sport again and save the fight for the real opponents who, right now, are getting a free ride.Ayesha Hazarika is a Labour peer. She was previously a senior Labour adviser to Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband.
Perspectives
Read next squareIan Dunt Labour’s first year has been a bitter disappointment – but there’s one clear solution Read next squareKwasi Kwarteng I know Keir Starmer personally – he is out of his depth Just read squareAyesha Hazarika If you think Labour isn’t succeeding, here’s what you’re missing Read More Details
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