Labour’s 13 U-turns aren’t bad luck, they’re incompetence, writes James Hanson |
By James Hanson
Oh how Sir Keir Starmer could do with remembering the words of Margaret Thatcher.
During her speech to the 1980 Tory conference, she famously quipped: “To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the ‘u’ turn, I have only one thing to say. ‘You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.'
In reality, the Iron Lady was no stranger to the occasional change of heart. For example, reversing planned defence cuts in the wake of the Falklands War. But Thatcher instinctively understood the dangers of constant U-turns: that they undermine the government’s authority and make future backbench rebellion more likely. As a result, they were few and far between.
Which makes a sharp contrast with Starmer and his shambolic administration. They’ve barely been in power for 18 months, yet Labour have already U-turned 13 times! Unlucky for some, you might say. And yet this isn’t really........