Can Keir Starmer cut through?

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Sir Keir Starmer with left-leaning commentators and MPs lining up to criticise the Labour leader. Among recent complaints include the idea that Starmer plays it too safe, has not held the Tories to account despite the high Covid death toll and has failed to make much of an impression on the general public. The polls also point to problems – with Savanta ComRes finding Boris Johnson has had a 5 point rise on the question of best Prime Minister in its monthly political tracker.

Today Starmer attempted to turn the page by setting out his approach on the economy. As Kate reports on Coffee House, this included the establishment of ‘British Recovery Bonds’, criticism of the Tory approach on Covid and a promise of fiscal responsibility. Already the speech has drawn criticism for a lack of substance. But one of the problems for Labour is that it’s hard to announce much in the way of policies three years away from the next election when the situation is so fluid.