On the 4th April 2020, Keir Starmer assumed office as the Leader of the Labour Party. He won that leadership election with almost a 30% winning margin.
3 years on, Neal talked with journalists Rachel Shabi and Rafael Behr to look back, and forward to where Starmer’s leadership is taking us.
Sir Keir is a controversial leader. In the three months since the beginning of this year, he’s come under fire for candidate selection processes that routinely block progressive and left leaning candidates, a purge of the left leaning members, failing to engage with the recommendations of Brown’s Commission, resolutely refusing to stand with striking workers, ignoring the wish of 80%+ of his party’s members to scrap our rotten voting system, and the list goes on.
He’s built a huge poll lead, previously unthinkable for Labour. He is widely expected to be capable of winning the next election and become Prime Minister.
But in December last year, 63% of voters thought the current poll lead Labour is enjoying is down to negative views of the government, not positive views of Labour or him. Compass is committed to ensuring a progressive government at the next election. That will be a Labour-led one, with either a majority or minority of seats. On this episode of It’s Bloody Complicated we got into what Keir Starmer’s leadership means for that future.
Enjoyed the podcast and want to be a live audience member at our next episode? Want to have the chance in raising questions to the panelist?
Support our work and be a part of the Compass community. Become a member!
You can find us on Twitter at @CompassOffice.