Will Starmer be trusted on his ‘five missions’?

The most interesting moment from Keir Starmer’s big set speech today came during the questions. The Labour leader had just set out his ‘five missions’ to fix the NHS, economy, crime, energy and education systems – the issues on which Labour hopes to fight the next election. But journalist after journalist preferred to ask Starmer instead about the last election he fought – the leadership contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. How, they asked, can voters trust the Labour leader’s promises, when he’s broken so many that he made to his own member? Starmer’s answers were clear: the goal is a Labour government, anything else is an irrelevance. The old Fortress Twickenham slogan could have been tattooed on his forehead: ‘Winning – that is why we are here.’

And that ruthless pragmatism was evidenced in the content of Sir Keir’s speech. His ‘five missions’ are to ‘secure the highest sustained growth in the G7’, ‘build an NHS fit for the future, ‘make Britain’s streets safe’, ‘break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage’ and ‘make Britain a clean energy superpower.’