The hopeful signs that mean a new Prime Minister could turn Labour's flagging fortunes around
Labour appears to be making progress on the NHS in England, while the UK economy seems to be bearing up surprisingly well
In his letter of resignation as Health Secretary, Wes Streeting wrote that the UK Government was “on track to achieve the fastest improvement in NHS waiting times in history”. If only Scotland could say the same.
His well-trailed decision to leave the Cabinet and call for Keir Starmer to go came as the Office for National Statistics published statistics showing that the UK’s gross domestic product had increased by an unexpectedly high 0.3 per cent in March, when the energy price shock caused by Donald Trump’s war on Iran began to bite.
However, despite this moderately good economic news, it has been clear for some months now that Starmer is a busted flush and Labour’s drubbing in the Scottish, Welsh and English council elections only confirmed that. His repeated errors of judgment on the domestic front – including opposing the return of Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham as an MP – have shown he simply does not have what it takes to be a successful Prime Minister.
Both Starmer and Cabinet loyalists now need to recognise that Streeting and the rebels are right and co-operate with the process of finding a replacement, so that it goes as smoothly as possible. The last thing the economy needs is a long, bitter leadership struggle. Markets need stability and clarity, not uncertainty and chaos.
The underlying strengths of the UK – still one of the world’s wealthiest countries – mean that a new leader capable of expressing a positive, hopeful vision of the future would have a chance of turning things around. If people start to feel better off and if the performance of the NHS south of the Border becomes noticeably better, then the political momentum could start to shift in Labour’s favour.
Starmer’s continued presence in 10 Downing Street is acting as break on that much-needed change of direction. Streeting put it like this in his resignation letter: “Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift.”
Political judgment and charisma are required qualities for successful Prime Ministers. Lacking sufficient amounts of either, Starmer must now find enough common sense – and humility – to realise it’s time for him to go.
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