Labour has declared its hands will be fuller than it could have imagined in cleaning up the mess left by the Conservatives, and this theme will most likely run as the obstacle which impedes all that the Government try to do. But it is a welcome commitment that they must deliver on their promises if they are to restore public faith in them and politics.
SERVING THE WHOLE NATION?
If the new Labour Government led by Keir Starmer successfully restores the trust of the British public in politicians, that will be their greatest achievement. They have made clear that they will not be guided by ideology, but by pragmatism, policy and service, that is “unburdened by doctrine”. In his words “Whether you voted Labour or not, in fact especially if you did not, I say to you directly: My Government will serve you”. They say country first not party.
Also, he and his colleagues repeat consistently their commitment to “service of working people”, who seem to be people who have no savings if Keir Starmer’s clarification is correct. But he then also talks of the working class as their service beneficiaries. Are they the same as working people? Perhaps more clarification is necessary? And they are committed also to being the party of “business”.
It should always perhaps be borne in mind that the huge majority in Parliament, which the Labour 412 seats represent, allows Labour to do what they choose in pursuance of these promises; they received only 34% of the votes cast, meaning that for 66% of actual voters Labour are not their preference. And it is necessary to add to that the large number of those entitled to vote who sadly did not exercise that right, some 40% of the total voting populace.
An incoming government always vows to serve all parts of the nation not just their supporters. For this Government especially, serving not just the whole nation but also all the specific sectors it has sworn to serve from working people to businesses will be a challenging feat, especially with so many voters not being dedicated backers.
FAIRNESS DICTATES CUTTING THE NEW TEAM SLACK
They need in fairness to be given time: but a 24 hour media hungry for drama will always apply pressure for quick wins. It will be important not to bow to that pressure to please the barons of the press and broadcasting. With “change” the buzzword of the election campaign for Labour, “delivery” or “actions” are the buzzwords of exercising power. It is the promise of delivery which offers hope to voters who feel let down by conservatives who failed to deliver on a lot of promises made when elected in 2019. They had to contend with Covid but their biggest obstacle which blocked delivery was the very divisions within the Conservative party itself, faction fighting faction, and a leadership which, by the time Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, had destroyed the Tory reputation for good governance and economic housekeeping. It is to be hoped that this new Labour Government is not confronted with a transformational event like Covid soon after entering office, and that such factions as may exist within or sponsoring its party can remain united.
It is fair too that they should have time to fully assess what actions are needed. But the lack of commitment to particular actions in their manifesto must not be an excuse for delay. There remains a suspicion among the media and perhaps the public that their silence on what they will do means there are courses of action previously decided but not revealed. This is compounded by an expressly declared obvious campaign now to discredit even more the state of the country left by the Tory Government. Keir Starmer reports a “toxic mess”. The state of the prisons is they say beyond the worst they imagined, the result of recklessness. As is the state of the financial economy, the worst since the end of the Second World War they repeat constantly. So too the Health Service, the transport system and every area imaginable it seems is “broken”.
But for example, the economy is faring well relatively speaking: rising economic output means many economists are forecasting UK growth in 2024 to be among the best among the G7, and the IMF forecast that UK growth in 2025 will be the best of the major European countries. Did Tories leave such a disastrous prospect to clear up? The Labour open policy of consistent repetition that in every area the Conservatives left a disaster is an understandable tactic. It is the same one which the Conservatives, as regards the country’s finances, adopted after the financial crisis when elected with the Liberal coalition. However, merely repeating the same message time after time does not make it true: it is more akin to brainwashing the public. The Labour statements about the state of the economy look close to deliberate misinformation. The purpose will of course be to buy time, to justify deferral of action, and to justify more extreme actions which may be more painful for the UK public. Public and media patience could wear thin however if the clamour to embed blame for the past becomes the major message.
CLEANING UP THE MESS, REVIEWS AND OTHER VIEWS
Keir Starmer said in the Observer on 13 July “ I have already started making those tough decisions necessary to clean up the mess”. They are showing energy which is good, and they say they are already deploying their political garbage trucks. The Rwanda scheme to deter illegal immigrants has been dropped, and so, although Labour say it was doomed to fail, it will never be known if it would have worked. The next few months of channel crossings may tell a story. Other European countries contemplating deportation schemes of the same type may establish their effectiveness. The net zero commitment by 2030 is thought by many to be good, even if impossible. Ed Milliband, in charge of energy, has in the first week of Government banned all future North Sea oil and gas licences and so applications in preparation will stop. However, it is said the UK will need lots more oil and gas for decades. And so, was this a wise decision to kill off domestic production and a lot of jobs, leading, some say, to simply more imports instead? Was this ideology, not pragmatism, driving a decision? He also announced approval of plans to turn thousands of acres of East of England farming land into solar farms, reducing food production locally. He vaunted his quick decision-making and contrasted Tory delay. Was his speed more hastiness than wisdom?
Strategic reviews always buy time. While it is encouraging this Government has declared its determination to reform the NHS and not just pour money down its all-consuming throat, it has initiated a grand review. It has committed absolutely to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, obviously not enough, but has put no timescale on that, and is first conducting a strategic defence review. For social care, apparently a cross-party Royal Commission review is contemplated, which will take years as they always do. If separate from the NHS review, is that sensible as the two are so entwined? Will broken prisons and the broken criminal justice system get a review? Surely, yes? These reviews may be a good idea but when “action” is the mantra the reviews might be perceived to clash with that mantra. There is evidence that the Civil Service is bloated and relatively unproductive: is that to be reviewed? Presumably the Prime Minister’s COO, Sue Gray, the ex-civil servant, will be front and centre here: will there be an independent review? As productivity in the public sector continues its decline, the ability to get the Civil Service performing well once more and far more productively has to be at the heart of improving public services. Whatever reviews are done, is it perhaps likely that their outcomes will require more taxpayer money, which puts the spotlight on a reallocation of spending and more taxes, where ideology may play a greater part?
The King’s Speech has promised action through legislation on numerous fronts with no significant surprises, and understandably nothing yet which addresses the biggest challenges. The most important imminent changes may be in employment rights and their extent may cause some to doubt the ability to marry their actions with the commitment to be the party of business.
And, from the sidelines, the Government will receive demands and advice from many quarters. Tony Blair and his Institute will be pumping out ideas. Already he has publicly urged the Prime Minister to have a plan to deal with illegal immigration, perhaps with an eye on the 38% who voted for Conservatives or Reform; and also to resist wokeism, which is one problem at least the Conservatives cannot be blamed for but which is seeping through cultural veins like Covid. The Blair suggestion to introduce identity cards has been rejected, but ID cards seem to be, and have perhaps for some time been, an inevitable necessity not just for immigration control but for the regular need for citizens to prove who they are. Trade Unions also have their views, which will generally be about getting their members a bigger slice of the cake, without necessarily growing the cake. And sectors of socialist leanings will apply their pressures: there is pressure at least from the SNP to remove the child benefit restriction to two children for example, although Government have said they do not propose a change. The promise to keep ideology in check is one which it is hoped they do not compromise.
Keir Starmer is a football fan. In the Observer article on 13 July, he said “I know you won’t judge us by our words but by what we do on the pitch. So, we will fight every day until you believe again. After 14 years of damage, the sunlight of hope is growing brighter. It’s not just football that’s coming home”. Sadly, the very next day England lost to Spain, and football is still not coming home. It is hoped this Government does better, and if, after a few weeks of berating the past, they stick to simple, clear and honest goals they can in fact do better.
