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This is nonsense. In 1997 Gordon Brown made a very well publicised pledge to stick precisely to existing Conservative spending plans for at least 2 years, alongside promising no tax rises. It was to head off the exact same public concerns about Labour that Starmer is worried about now.
There's the carnival bark and then there's the show. Labour ran with two competing narratives in that election - you're right that there was the 'you can trust us with the economy' narrative, which they sent (frankly) down the media pipes I wasn't aware of at the time, being an 18 year old lad with spunk in my eye and a song in my heart, who would rather get a sensible haircut than listen to the Today programme.
But there was also the 'things can only get better' narrative of optimism. Starmer doesn't need to copy that narrative - there's not much grounds for optimism right now - but he IS lacking an emotional direction of travel to allow me to contextualise the promises they make, to understand the basis on which they'll make their decisions. I'd even argue that for new Labour this strategic narrative was more prominent than the one you're referring to. They even put in their manifesto - the windfall levy on privatised utilities to fund work schemes, the promise to cut class sizes, the promise to cut NHS waiting lists. I knew less about politics then than I knew now but what that meant for my life was clear to me even at the time - Blair believed in hard work and reward but also fairness and reducing inequality.
I think the distinction between these two approaches is summarised by the distinction between Blair and Brown fwiw - Brown definitely wanted to push the iron chancellor image. Blair didn't. And Blair was who I was paying attention to.
I am a Labour man. I'm a treasurer for my local party, been a member for ages, and I'm a delegate. I'll be door knocking for Starmer. I'm in no way not going to vote for Labour. But I also see our weaknesses, and I don't think it harms us by discussing them.
ReekBlefs-
am a Labour man. I'm a treasurer for my local party, been a member for ages, and I'm a delegate. I'll be door knocking for Starmer. I'm in no way not going to vote for Labour
This is the point, I feel.
Nothing that KS says in the next six months is, or should be, directed at you.
It should be directed at the much less committed, and therefore switchable Tory voter.
Labour have a once in a century opportunity to BURY the Conservatives. To give them real troubles forming a comeback for a long time. Whilst that is even remotely possible, they should be trying very hard to make it happen.
It is my strongly held opinion that absolutely nothing that is being said by KS and Labour right now, until a final manifesto at least, is indicative of post election intentions.
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Good post, interesting perspective.
On this bit
Blair believed in hard work and reward but also fairness and reducing inequality.
I absolutely trust that Keir Starmer does too.
The fiscal discipline bit is an absolutely necessary precondition for a Labour government to get elected. Tories are permitted to act madly because the default media and public view of them is 'competent albeit cruel' (obvs competency is taking a well deserved reconsideration at the moment). Labour aren't, because the default view is 'heart in the right place but not businesslike enough'.
I hope that the manifesto does have some good things to offer the country. But it can be chock full of the things that everybody would want (cf free broadband, cancel tuition fees etc) and the effect is just that it isn't trusted, and Labour don't get into Government and get a chance to deliver.
mashton
lemonade
This is nonsense. In 1997 Gordon Brown made a very well publicised pledge to stick precisely to existing Conservative spending plans for at least 2 years, alongside promising no tax rises. It was to head off the exact same public concerns about Labour that Starmer is worried about now.