Who is popular today?

The Labour leader powerfully diagnosed the ailing state of the nation. Before the election, his party can afford to show greater ambition when it comes to the cureJust before Christmas, Labour’s shadow cabinet received a salutary briefing on recent political comebacks that defied polling predictions. As the party’s poll lead over the Conservatives hovers close to 20 points, the message was clear: however dispirited, despairing and divided Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party appears to be, Labour needs to maintain its discipline, avoid complacency and keep on doing what it has been doing.In essence, this is exactly what Sir Keir Starmer did on Thursday at the Bristol and Bath Science Park – a venue designed to project a future-facing vibe, in contrast to 14 years of economic stagnation under five Tory prime ministers. Sir Keir’s heavily trailed speech contained no new policy; the point of it – in a year when Labour has a chance of achieving its most significant election victory since 1997 – was to paint with a broader brush, outlining a vision of necessary national renewal. Continue reading...