03-07-2025
Starmer's strategy unravels as policy U-turns erode authority
Despite Labour's landslide majority, Hodges noted that 'this is not normal… It is not normal for a prime minister facing open revolt from his party'.
He points to the failure of Sir Keir's leadership strategy: 'The sort of proper preparations, the hard yards, the hard policy development, the clear 100-day strategy – none of that was done. And what we are seeing is a prime minister who just was not prepared for the demands of government.'
With further party unrest caused by reforms to the welfare Bill, there are questions surrounding the ambitions of the Deputy PM: ' She's very popular amongst activists. She has support amongst the trade unions and amongst the growing cadre of Labour MPs who are starting to see the primary threat to Labour coming from Farage and Farage's populist working class appeal.'
The prospect of Sir Keir holding the party together, Hodges suggested, is narrowing: 'Both his Left flank and his Right flank are collapsing simultaneously, which is why he's in the dire predicament he is.'
