Few observers of politics can by now be in much doubt about the defective nature of Keir Starmer’s antennae when it comes to picking up the concerns of the British public. The number of U-turns the Labour leader has made once it has been explained to him what most voters actually think – the latest being over trans issues – is quite striking.
But we should keep in mind that Rishi Sunak’s antennae are not especially reliable either. He is neither an early period Thatcher with an innate understanding of the instincts of ‘our people’, nor an early period Blair with a natural popular touch.
Sunak’s relaxed position could be interpreted as a sign that more mass inward migration will follow if he is returned to power
The Prime Minister has just reminded us of this weakness in an interview with the always astute Paul Goodman of the ConservativeHome website. Naturally, Goodman questioned him about his pledge to ‘stop the boats’, yielding an admission from the PM that it might still be a work in progress by the time of the next general election.
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