Post

James Ball
@jamesrball.com

I'm sure a fair few social liberals who had been chased away from Labour are at least Burnham-curious and may return – I suspect that's the poll bump so far. But I don't think it would take much, at all, to chase them away again. And I think they'd be much harder to pull back a second time.

Stephen Bush@stephenkb.bsky.social

To me, the big picture problem here is that it sets Labour back on the same failed course as 2024 to 2026, of offering nothing to social liberals but going “don’t worry. Can I interest you in some failed economics instead?”

15 reposts95 likes

Tom Phillips
@tom-phillips.com

also the Treasury should be a big force in government going "some immigration plz, as a treat?" the best case here is SM looks at a few projections and goes "can I shock you, I love immigration now" and can maybe (??) sell the argument better the catastrophic case is that she doesn't do that

James Ball
@jamesrball.com

She's spent the last few months being shown those charts and disregarding them, so not *wildly* hopeful that seeing them while behind a different desk will do much. Though she does seem to share the trait with May that she gets absorbed in the task she's set as she sees it, so...maybe?

Joe B
@joeburden.bsky.social

Very much. I've voted Labour all my life and have been watching Burnham with interest after the Starmer years turned me away... but if Mahmood is kept in a senior position then it's all for nought.

Paul Russell
@pwrussell.bsky.social

If you’re main problem is that social liberal have deserted your party in droves, it seems a little rash for your first action - the one that will set the tone for whatever follows - to be one that enrages them.

James
@mcjamesz.bsky.social

I really can't believe Mahmood will be promoted, just for her going into business for herself during Starmer's (true) caretaker period, never mind that she's been responsible for the policies causing the bulk of the turn away from Labour that led to it.