Crazy idea for Labour: why not just enact policies you actually believe in, rather than attempt 4D political chess. - ThreadSky

sathnam.bsky.social • 1 day ago

Crazy idea for Labour: why not just enact policies you actually believe in, rather than attempt 4D political chess.

Reposted from Sunder Katwala (sundersays)

Sunday Times says McSweeney believes there is more chance "Reform eclipses the Conservatives than the Conservatives eclipse Reform". (Neither scenario is esp likely: more likely Labour 2029 faces contests with 4 different challenger parties when defending seats)
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Comments

kirkmurphy.bsky.social•1 day ago

Where's the money and status for the "consultants" in that?

cityhobo61.bsky.social•1 day ago

What does Starmer believe in? McSweeney needs to go! If Starmer can’t see that he should go too.

lavajackal.bsky.social•1 day ago

But what if 4D political chess is what they believe in?

chrissquire.bsky.social•1 day ago

They seem more interested in chasing the same voters as Tories and Reform, leaving a lot of voters like me politically homeless.

Starmer did a good job of putting people who believe in their brief into post (Timpson, Hermer and Milliband etc) which was a breath of fresh air, but to what end?

davemercer.bsky.social•1 day ago

It’s far more important to be a “source” who Shipman has on speed-dial!

jimhigham.bsky.social•1 day ago

Or maybe it’s just pragmatic politics because utopian ideology isn’t workable in the real world. Politicians have to work in the real world. Truss and Kwarteng found out the hard way. Politics isn’t easy except for pundits down the pub who never bothered to stand for election.

martinmorrey.bsky.social•1 day ago

Unfortunately that would be a crazy idea, at least if Labour are serious about getting re-elected in 2029, because most print and online media are owned by right-wing / libertarian oligarchs.

Once you understand the system is heavily stacked against Labour, the strategy makes much more sense.

lesserspottedh.bsky.social•1 day ago

I don’t really believe appeasing the right-wing media is a good strategy. Apart from the fact that voters are not going to find out what Labour actually believe in, it won’t work because said media will always find reasons to diss Labour. Appeasing them will never be enough.

martinmorrey.bsky.social•1 day ago

Appeasing the right-wing media has been essential to Labour winning UK general elections in the last 50 years, from opposition or government.

Foot, Kinnock, Brown, Ed Milliband, Corbyn - all lost.

Sadly that's the way it works ... at least until media ownership rules are changed.

lesserspottedh.bsky.social•1 day ago

Okay.

juditty.bsky.social•1 day ago

And presumably with such a large majority Labour could change media ownership rules. I’m frustrated that Labour appears to be doing very little to strengthen our democracy. When are they going to repeal the anti-protest and voter ID (suppression) laws brought in by the Tories? Or don’t they want to?

martinmorrey.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yes, 100% agree, really wish they were doing more on media regulation, i.e. fully implementing Leveson One, and bringing back Leveson Two.
https://inews.co.uk/news/leveson-inquiry-part-two-wont-ahead-3182097

iacovos.bsky.social•1 day ago

Or, even crazier idea for Labour, enact some policies that are good for the UK and don't involve imposing stupid EU red lines, punching down on the vulnerable/migrants, aiding genocide, or sucking up to a deranged Trump

valentenya.bsky.social•1 day ago

The only way for Labour to deal with the rise of fascism is to shift further to the right. There’s simply no other option. One suggestion I’ve heard for countering Reform is that they change the party’s name to something more patriotic eg “National Socialist Party” 🤷

jonnye46.bsky.social•1 day ago

Labour are so disappointing, what an absolute waste of a huge majority. They’ll never get another chance.

againstlies.bsky.social•1 day ago

You appear to believe The Times report about what is driving Starmer.

That may be the problem, not Starmer who if you look at his policies has been very radical in only 9 months.

richardfbourke.bsky.social•1 day ago

And yet another Eminence Grise blabbing to the times.
Anyone remember the last time a PM didn't have an overmighty and indiscreet advisor?

officialstehee.bsky.social•1 day ago

This isn’t 4D political chess, this is populism and Labour are shit at populism.

threepeacesweet.bsky.social•1 day ago

They believe in this

Empty vessels

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