The Light Was Yellow Sir
Well-Known Member
“We knew that Ulez was going to be an issue and of course we all need to reflect on that, including the mayor.”
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The Labour Party
- Thread starter Ban-jani
- Start date
The Light Was Yellow Sir
Well-Known Member
It’s even worse than I suspected. “In an election policy matters. And we're doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet."I've not seen the speech as I was on picket line. One of the FBU lads who just showed up claimed Keir threw him under the bus.
Now, I might be wrong, but that sounds like he thinks they should only be putting forward policies the Tories won’t disagree with!
It’s even worse than I suspected. “In an election policy matters. And we're doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet."
Now, I might be wrong, but that sounds like he thinks they should only be putting forward policies the Tories won’t disagree with!
That’s exactly what he is saying.
It's not because the Tories disagree with it, it's that they think it's so unpopular with voters that it's worth putting on every leaflet as an attack.It’s even worse than I suspected. “In an election policy matters. And we're doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet."
Now, I might be wrong, but that sounds like he thinks they should only be putting forward policies the Tories won’t disagree with!
I don't think it is.That’s exactly what he is saying.
For example, Labour have talked about introducing free breakfast clubs at all Primary Schools. The Tories might disagree with this but they're not going to use it on any attack leaflets, because it's probably quite popular.
The ULEZ issue is that the Tories disagree with it and it's unpopular (because a lot of people really love their cars in this country, and pollution is difficult to "see".)
The Light Was Yellow Sir
Well-Known Member
Why did he not explain that it was Johnson that brought it in, Shapps who insisted it was expanded but, given the state of air pollution in London, it was right to expand it.I don't think it is.
For example, Labour have talked about introducing free breakfast clubs at all Primary Schools. The Tories might disagree with this but they're not going to use it on any attack leaflets, because it's probably quite popular.
The ULEZ issue is that the Tories disagree with it and it's unpopular (because a lot of people really love their cars in this country, and pollution is difficult to "see".)
If his idea is not to interrupt your enemy whilst he’s making huge mistakes it just might be better not to only say that you’d do the same thing….
Just because it's the right thing to do doesn't mean it wins elections, and anything to do with cars is almost impossible to address rationally. Starmer, who is desperate not to mess up before the general election, so he can get into power and change things for the better, is butting up against Sadiq Khan, who is safely in power, and already has the popularity to make these kind of tough decisions.Why did he not explain that it was Johnson that brought it in, Shapps who insisted it was expanded but, given the state of air pollution in London, it was right to expand it.
If his idea is not to interrupt your enemy whilst he’s making huge mistakes it just might be better not to only say that you’d do the same thing….
This isn't the same as not interrupting - The Tories wanted this byelection to be a proxy referendum on ULEZ, and would have loved for Labour to engage more on this issue. They were quite happy to draw as much attention as they could away from anything positive Labour had to offer, and instead focus on an issue where they know they can "win" the argument, no matter the facts.
The Light Was Yellow Sir
Well-Known Member
But only the Labour Party could ignore one of THE greatest results in its history and start looking inwards because it didn’t win in Uxbridge. Blair, he of the landslide fame, didn’t win in Uxbridge either in the 1997 election or the 97 by election and I don't think he was hugely bothered by it. It looks like Starmer has no political instincts and, worse than that, no principles either.Just because it's the right thing to do doesn't mean it wins elections, and anything to do with cars is almost impossible to address rationally. Starmer, who is desperate not to mess up before the general election, so he can get into power and change things for the better, is butting up against Sadiq Khan, who is safely in power, and already has the popularity to make these kind of tough decisions.
This isn't the same as not interrupting - The Tories wanted this byelection to be a proxy referendum on ULEZ, and would have loved for Labour to engage more on this issue. They were quite happy to draw as much attention as they could away from anything positive Labour had to offer, and instead focus on an issue where they know they can "win" the argument, no matter the facts.
The political instincts here are the same as the familiar reasons for not closing the Central Wales railway line. "It goes through seven marginal constituencies." The extended ULEZ covers a lot of marginal constituencies. And asthmatic children don't vote.But only the Labour Party could ignore one of THE greatest results in its history and start looking inwards because it didn’t win in Uxbridge. Blair, he of the landslide fame, didn’t win in Uxbridge either in the 1997 election or the 97 by election and I don't think he was hugely bothered by it. It looks like Starmer has no political instincts and, worse than that, no principles either.
Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese
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True, but I'm sure the winning margin (a few hundred votes) would've been overturned by a more nuanced introduction of the brexit expansion. An opportunity missed sadlyBut only the Labour Party could ignore one of THE greatest results in its history and start looking inwards because it didn’t win in Uxbridge. Blair, he of the landslide fame, didn’t win in Uxbridge either in the 1997 election or the 97 by election and I don't think he was hugely bothered by it. It looks like Starmer has no political instincts and, worse than that, no principles either.