We've been in an election campaign since 2010. That's why nothing works.

How can the budget not bomb when the media's already set people up to know that it will. Given the atmosphere in this shitty media environment, we could all be thousands a year better off and still moaning.

Did he say it himself, or was it one of *those* briefings?

What was this briefing?

I didn’t have much optimism about Starmer, but I did hope that he would be grown up and competent. In a way, in foreign affairs, he almost is. But in national politics? 😳🫣
how much is down to Morethan McSqeezy, trimming policies to the point of nonsense so as to chase 3 Reform minded Labour voters

It's boring the lack of patience we're seeing after 14 years of rope being given to the predecessors.

Can you tell us who it was the did the briefing ? Otherwise it is not a briefing it a weaselly, revenge shit-stirring attempt.

Finally there is a side risk for Starmer personally in all this that he gets a reputation for turning on his own team which isn’t what Brits want from captain of the ship. During the Diane Abbott candidacy row last summer, voters didn’t like the sense he wasnt backing his own.

It’s both that less than 18 months in Downing Street are effectively saying they have lost confidence of colleagues, while briefing against a cabinet minister responsible for the area their voters really care about (which just looks to public like more of last years of Tories)

Lisa Nandy has a tremendous opportunity to do some good here. My personal preference is Robbie Gibb's head on a pike as a warning to others but I'll accept other reforms

McSweeney and Glasman hate the left more than they hate the right. McSweeney won't want the government to do anything which can be seen to be radical.

I’m sure he influences the government’s direction and messaging but less convinced that he can dictate or veto what individual ministers do (eg Miliband or Streeting)

Yes, he's an employee, but what I have read is that he's Starmer's trusted advisor. No, he's not all powerful. I hope you're right that I'm getting carried away, and that the government can get back to being an actual Labour government and ditch the Blue Labour ideology.

Current word-which-must-be-included.

Back in the 80s when I started teaching we didn't need to say there was a target, but we did want the kids to attend school every school day except when they were ill or on a family holiday.

The press release also mentions many other wins Labour have had with the NHS so far including more GPs, 700k more urgent dental appointments, 100 more community diagnostic centres, more surgical hubs, waiting lists cut, improving patient satisfaction with GPs and improving productivity rates.

2/2