How Keir Starmer Will Take A Leaf Out Of Margaret Thatcher's Book After Labour Local Election Losses

Starmer is expected to channel Thatcher as he responds to disappointing local election results.Margaret Thatcher had a phrase she often repeated when challenged on her strident adherence to her unapologetically right-wing economic principles.“There is no alternative,” the former Conservative prime minister would say to those who pointed out the social unrest and industrial devastation her policies were causing.The initials of those four words led to Thatcher being given the nickname “Tina” by friend and foe alike.She was rewarded with three election victories before finally being dumped when her MPs finally tired of her intransigence.While he would not welcome the comparison, there is undoubtedly something Thatcheresque about Keir Starmer and his supporters’ response to Labour’s performance at the local elections.“I’ve seen it suggested that we just scrap the fiscal rules so we can borrow and spend more – that’s just a recipe for higher interest rates,” said one of the PM’s allies. “There’s no easy solution, it’s just hard work.”Although Labour did manage to cling on to the mayoralties in North Tyneside, Doncaster and the West of England, the overall picture for Labour was one of bitter disappointment.Nowhere typified this more than Runcorn and Helsby, where Labour saw their 14,700 majority wiped out by Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin, albeit by just six votes.Meanwhile, Labour lost more than 100 councillors – most of them to Reform UK – confounding polling experts who had forecast they would make modest gains.Nevertheless, the mood in 10 Downing Street is that the party must stick to the path it is currently on, regardless of the incoming fire. Because trust is so thin in politics we are taking all the downside because there is no upside to point to yet.”Labour sourceOne senior party source told HuffPost UK: “If we’d got six more votes in Runcorn, on top of the three mayoral wins, I’d be feeling quite positive overall.“We’re a year into a long-term project, we’ve had to do lots of tough stuff and people are giving us a chance to get it done. But those six votes in Runcorn make a big difference to the mood.”Another insider said: “We get it, we understand it, we’ve got to deliver real, tangible change. For example, we are doing stuff to clean up rivers but we’ve had to put up water bills to do it. Because trust is so thin in politics we are taking all the downside because there is no upside to point to yet.”One cabinet minister pointed out that turning the country round takes time: “You can’t do it in an afternoon.”But it was not hard to find Labour critics of the party hierarchy, however. Ros Jones had only been re-installed as mayor of Doncaster for a few minutes before she was telling the BBC precisely why Reform UK had come within 700 votes of removing her from office.“I think national government needs to look and see what people are saying,” she said.“I wrote [to Starmer] as soon as [scrapping] the winter fuel allowance was mooted and I said it was wrong.“The results tonight demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people.”The decision to increase National Insurance payments for employers, as well as slash disability benefits, were two more policies which had cost Labour votes, Jones said.A former MP said the winter fuel allowance decision is coming up on doorsteps “time and time again”.He said: “I think they’ve got to do something to show voters that we get it and we’re listening. Overturning the winter fuel policy would make a huge difference to how the government is perceived in the country.”Those on the left of the party also accused the PM of pandering to Reform and demanded an urgent change of direction. This really highlights how fragile Labour’s electoral coalition isChris Hopkins, political research director at SavantaNeal Lawson, director of the campaign group Compass, said: “Labour are squandering their general election victory – people in Runcorn voted for change and instead Labour are giving them more of the same. It’s paving the way for Reform.“Labour need to understand that if people want Reform’s policies then they will vote for Reform – and if they can close the gap this much in 11 months, imagine what it might be in five years.“What should terrify Labour strategists in Runcorn is that the Green vote went up – even though Green voters knew this might let Reform in. Labour is simply not progressive enough to win even tactical support.”Simon Fletcher, who was campaigns and elections adviser to Starmer during his first year as opposition leader, told Byline Times: “Now we can see with the real clarity of votes at the ballot box what the consequences are of a Labour government that responds to the economy’s deep-seated problems with yet more cuts to pensioners’ winter fuel payments and attacks on disabled people.”Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said Labour’s strategy is understandable, but still represents a huge gamble.“Labour have a really difficult job knowing what to do about Reform,” he said. “They could adopt a more populist right-leaning strategy, but they risk alienating core voters to the Lib Dems and Greens. This really highlights how fragile Labour’s electoral coalition is.“It’s interesting that Starmer’s decision is to double down on the existing strategy; that probably makes sense as evidence of not panicking, and overly pivoting to worry about Reform, but it’s still a risk as reform are such an unknown quantity.”Labour figures are consoling themselves with the fact that, if anything, Kemi Badenoch had an even worse night than Starmer.The Tories lost more than 500 councillors and a swathe of councils as they were caught in a Reform UK and Lib Dem pincer movement.A Labour source said: “Reform have done well but the Tory vote has totally collapsed.“The usual way back into government is to acknowledge what you got wrong, change and then put that change to the country. And if that failed, you at least had a base you could rely on. I think the Tories are beyond that.“Without a serious course correction they could actually fall to pieces. 150 years of the most successful party in the western world and they are on the verge of disappearing.”A government minister said: “The big fight at the general election will be between Labour and whatever happens on the right. Are we seeing the demise of the Tories or will they fight back?”One former Conservative cabinet minister said that after just six months as party leader, Badenoch is already on borrowed time.“She’s got a year to turn it around,” he said. “The one thing saving her right now is that there’s nobody else who could do it.”Related...Local Elections: Labour Infighting Begins As MPs Cast Blame For Poor PerformanceLabour Narrowly Sees Off Reform UK Surge To Win Mayoral ElectionsSavage Blow For Keir Starmer As Reform Stun Labour To Win Runcorn By-Election

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