To govern as an ‘adult’, Labour must confront the hard decisions now and be ready to cause some controversy, writes former deputy director of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit James Nation

The chief secretary to the Treasury has apparently quipped that “the adults are back in the room”. It is a cute line and, take it from someone who was there in October 2022, easy for any new administration to think.

Labour has the benefit of effective power. With a strong majority, a united party and a civil service keen to impress, the ‘adult’ thing to do is to confront the hard decisions now. So far, the government’s approach has two features. The first is to believe (and brief) that simply getting everyone in the room is enough to cut through any difficult problems. The second is to seek to portray their inheritance in the worst........

© City A.M.