Keir Starmer's advisers complain that Labour MPs have "main character syndrome", expecting a busy PM to flatter their egos; he should, because he needs them
Very thoughtful. I have given quite a lot of thought to the well known problems faced by those who come into politics from (senior positions in) business. But there is a similar gap to be bridged by those moving from the civil service and politics. I remember as a junior official being taken by surprise more than once by Ministers’ reactions to policy proposals: policy and politics can be very different things. By the time one gets to more senior positions, the business of politics should be more familiar - but it doesn’t necessarily make you a politician.
Starmer may have had a dreadful week, but the rest of us (apart from public sector workers) have had an awful year. Four more years of Startmer, Reeves, Milliband, Cooper, Rayner, Lammy?
Would you agree that Starmer suffered a catastrophic loss of nerve on Tuesday afternoon when he agreed to withdraw clause 5 of the Bill? 335 MPs voted for the Bill on the second reading. 38 of these would have to have voted against the government for the Bill to be defeated, in addition to the 49 or so who actually did vote against. Is it believable that a rebellion on that scale could have occurred?
Oh, that was extraordinary. Agreeing to delete clauses while the minister is at the despatch box is absolutely chaotic and demonstrates blind panic, and, as I noted, an apparent lack of intelligence about Members’ intentions.
Very thoughtful. I have given quite a lot of thought to the well known problems faced by those who come into politics from (senior positions in) business. But there is a similar gap to be bridged by those moving from the civil service and politics. I remember as a junior official being taken by surprise more than once by Ministers’ reactions to policy proposals: policy and politics can be very different things. By the time one gets to more senior positions, the business of politics should be more familiar - but it doesn’t necessarily make you a politician.
Starmer may have had a dreadful week, but the rest of us (apart from public sector workers) have had an awful year. Four more years of Startmer, Reeves, Milliband, Cooper, Rayner, Lammy?
Would you agree that Starmer suffered a catastrophic loss of nerve on Tuesday afternoon when he agreed to withdraw clause 5 of the Bill? 335 MPs voted for the Bill on the second reading. 38 of these would have to have voted against the government for the Bill to be defeated, in addition to the 49 or so who actually did vote against. Is it believable that a rebellion on that scale could have occurred?
Oh, that was extraordinary. Agreeing to delete clauses while the minister is at the despatch box is absolutely chaotic and demonstrates blind panic, and, as I noted, an apparent lack of intelligence about Members’ intentions.