Watching the unfolding political drama in Westminster over recent days, you could be forgiven for wondering if the British public have been dropped into an episode of ‘Yes, Prime Minister’ rather than living real lives under a Labour government. Instead of focusing on the pressing challenges facing everyday Britons – from the cost of living to the NHS crisis – the spotlight has been firmly fixed on internal Labour turmoil, bitter factional rows and the fate of its own leadership.
The resignation on Sunday of Sir Keir Starmer’s Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, amid the controversy over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as UK Ambassador to the United States, was always going to make headlines. But the speed with which that story has dominated the political coverage tells you everything you need to know about where Labour’s priorities lie. McSweeney stepped down taking “full responsibility” for advising on the appointment – a move that critics argue has damaged trust in politics itself.
And, as if one senior departure wasn’t enough, the Prime Minister’s director of communications, Tim Allan, has today also quit fewer than twenty-four hours later. In a terse statement, Allan said he was making way for a “new No.10 team.”.
But what the public see is not reinvigoration – it’s retreat, upheaval and instability at the heart of government.
All this comes at a time when families across the country are still struggling with inflationary pressures on essentials and long delays in accessing NHS care. Hard-pressed workers, young people, and pensioners do not wake up each morning thinking about Downing Street personnel changes – they worry about whether their energy bills are manageable, whether their children’s surgeries are being scheduled, or whether their parents will be left waiting hours in A&E.
Labour came into office promising stability, competence, and a government that is “fit for purpose.” But, increasingly, its energy seems to be expended on internal survival rather than public service. The self-referential debate about who sits where, who is to blame, and who should resign next is not only distracting – it is actively disheartening voters who hoped for a government committed to delivering real change.
This is not just about Westminster gossip. When an administration becomes obsessed about its own internal machinations, it loses sight of the people it was elected to serve. Voters do not want another round of Westminster turmoil and leadership speculation – they want tangible action on their priorities. They want an economy that works for them, not just for markets or professional political pundits. They want a health service that works when they need it most.
The Lib Dem voice has always been, and must remain, one that holds all parties to account to ensure they’re putting citizens first. We understand that effective politics is not about internal manoeuvring or personality dramas, it’s about competence, compassion, and outcomes.
Labour should take a long look at itself. The cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away. Pressures on emergency care and the wider NHS are getting worse, not better.
Instead of arguing over cabinet seating plans and backroom exits, the government must get a grip and deliver for those who put their trust in it. The country deserves better. Britain deserves a government focused on the people, not on itself.
Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment exposes the hollowness of Starmer’s China trip
The jailing of Jimmy Lai – the 78-year old British citizen and iconic Hong Kong pro-democracy voice – to twenty years in prison under China’s draconian national security law is a stark reminder that Keir Starmer’s recent trip to Beijing yielded very little of substance for human rights. Despite raising Lai’s plight with President Xi, the outcome has been the harshest sentence yet in a case that has drawn international condemnation and renewed fears about the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong.
A diplomatic mission that was meant to open doors now looks like it opened them for Beijing – not for justice. It raises serious questions about whether our government was out-negotiated or, worse, played.
Starmer must now halt the go-ahead of the Chinese ‘super embassy’ and demand the Chinese Ambassador to the UK come to Parliament to explain himself. Human rights must be at the heart of our foreign policy, not an afterthought.
A sign of things to come?
Welcoming Councillor Manu Singh to the Liberal Democrats from the Greens is good news – and potentially telling. As the Green Party of England and Wales drifts toward Zack Polanski’s ‘eco-socialism,’ moderate Greens may start peeling away. Values-led, liberal, environmental politics still has a home here.
* Mathew Hulbert is a former Councillor, is a regular commentator on TV and Radio, and is Co-Host of the Political Frenemies podcast.
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14 Comments
Oh! Did Mark Valladares’ piece get spiked?
“…..moderate Greens may start peeling away {from the Green Party}…”
Which are the Green policies which are most likely to cause that?
The most worrying thing about this Labour government is that it makes more people feel they want to vote for Reform UK. Is our Lib Dem voice strong enough and understood enough to be the radical vision of change for the good ?
@ Nigel Jones, “Is our Lib Dem voice strong enough and understood enough to be the radical vision of change for the good ?”
Having first joined the Liberal Party way back in the early sixties in response to Jo Grimond’s oratory and fresh radical message, Nigel, l would suggest there is a limit on the number of people who can be enticed by falling in the water, bungee jumping or riding a child’s hobby horse…….. not sure how much sticking out one’s middle aged spread to lead a marching band conveys much of a radical message, either.
Looking at society outside leafy Middle England there is one heck of a job required to tackle inequality with relevant, coherent and clear policies with passion and wit.
“everything you need to know about where Labour’s priorities lie” – well said, Matthew. Keir Starmer is accused by his MPs of “lacking judgement” because he chose a man superbly equipped for schmoozing with the unsavoury characters in the White House to be our ambassador. No mention during the current furore about Starmer’s decision to support Israel with military aid throughout its assault on Gaza, which is immoral, unconscionable and illegal, and makes a mockery of the idea of democracy, flying as it does in the face of the will of the British people.
Of course, as Dianne Abbott pointed out on Channel Four News last night, they will keep him in place until after the disastrous May election results, so that the new leader can start with a clean sheet.
Having said all that, I know a number of Labour MPs whose own priorities are a good deal more noble than those being portrayed as their party’s, as was displayed by them (and by our own Lib Dem MPs and at least one Conservative) in the Genocide Risk Assessment debate in the commons on February 5th.
“Labour has lost its way” ???
I don’t know about that. The Labour Party, or at least the version of it that Starmer calls “My Labour Party” hasn’t actually drifted off its set course. It has pursued its intended agenda and very much to the right of what most Labour Party members are happy with.
The triumvate of Starmer, Mandelson and McSweeney didn’t expect the level of popular support for “Starmer’s Labour Party” to collapse in the way it has since the July ’24 election. They thought that moving to the right would make them more popular with voters. The mistaken idea was that they would more than make up the numbers of those leaving by attracting more support from those who wanted a less socialist approach. Labour MPs have started to panic and consequently they haven’t been anywhere near as compliant as Starmer and co would have expected. The believed their own propaganda and they got it wrong. It’s been a series of unforeseen events, at least by them, that have caused problems.
They knew all about Mandelson of course. If Private Eye and the Financial Times knew so would they. But they hadn’t anticipated that a Trump government would release quite so many of the Epstein files.
Peter Martin – I don’t keep the back numbers but I can remember stuff about Mandelson rumbling on in Private Eye decades ago, possibly as far back as Neil Kinnock’s days as Labour Leader. One important lesson that members of different parties can learn from the present Labour disasters is that politics abhors a vacuum. Electing a leader lacking in political nous was never going to work. Some voters and some newspapers might go apoplectic at the idea but we need to be governed at every level by people possessing the said nous (which does not have to be the same as low cunning). Most District and County councillors know that. Yes we need more transparency and accountability bur God preserve us from pretend politicians!
Matthew, you are right: ‘All this comes at a time when families across the country are still struggling with inflationary pressures on essentials and long delays in accessing NHS care’.
Ed’s excellent article in today’s Guardian spelt out the real issues facing Britain:
‘when hospitals are full of people needing care’, get ‘a grip on the problems ordinary people are facing.’ ‘And if (Labour) can’t – better to go now and let those of us who can make our case in a general election.’ Thank you, Ed.
John Waller – Totally agree. Ed’s article is spot on.
Not to let Labour off the hook, but, we should also look at the broader implications of Epstein.
The key words is impunity. The powerful rich flocked to Epstein, who created a climate of impunity and untouchability, both with sexual and with financial abuses. On a private island, no external law can touch you.
Many ordinary men do treat women badly. But relatively few choose under-age victims, which would carry the obvious risk of being caught and imprisoned. The Epstein “elite” delighted in having enough power to escape those risks. Both with female victims and with financial criminality.
This epicentre of impunity and criminality contaminates business and politics, influencing less blatantly corrupt participants, including all three of our older parties.
The voters are savvy enough to know this. Sadly, they are probably not savvy enough to avoid, in their desperation, turning to the outright charlatans in their place.
Peter, Labour are hemorrhaging support across those Midland and Northern towns where the Libdems and Greens poll very badly.
It’s not through a lack of socialism that’s for sure. Towns that have become unrecognisable – and not for the better.
@ Craig,
The Northern towns have suffered more than anywhere else from the process of de-industrialisation which started under Thatcher. This economic effect has led to the grievances we see now. The Labour Party as it is doesn’t offer any real solutions so we are seeing both a discontent with all mainstream politicians generally and a move to the politics of the far right.
We see a similar effect in formerly prosperous towns like Blackpool, Clacton and Margate. It’s been caused by a large reduction in their tourist trade rather than de-industrialisation but this economic change does lead to the same outcome.
The question is whether the Labour Party should have been, and should still be, more socialist during its time in government and whether this would have led to a better outcome in these towns.
Of course you and I will l likely disagree on this.
UK Government Inquiry Into UK Elite Links To Epstein.
I demand as a British person, that Kier Starmer, and the UK government announce a totally independent government inquiry, with access to all information, witnesses into UK elites links to Jeffrey Epstein.
This inquiry should report on all UK PM’s, past and present on their links and relationships to Epstein.
This is the only way to lance this boil.
This inquiry should include UK government officials and MP’s, opposition leaders, MP’s and Lords. This should apply to all parties Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, SNP, Reform, Plaid Cymru, and Greens.
The inquiry should try to find out who had close relationships with Epstein, and who he represented.
An inquiry of that sort sounds a great way to make sure the boil keeps festering and continues to divert political attention for as long as the inquiry continues.
Appointing Mandelson turned as US ambassador turned out to be a huge mistake, but personally at this point I’d rather the Government and politicians of all parties put all their focus back to fixing the cost of living crisis, cleaning up pollution, defending us from the Russian threat, creating a fairer society and all the other stuff that will actually make a difference to everyone’s lives.