The current mood inside Labour MPs currently adheres to Edgar's law. It affirms that the magnitude of every hardship is only assessed against unforeseen calamities. As the Bard lets the exiled child of the blinded Earl of Gloucester say in the play: “The worst does not exist, so long as we are able to utter ‘this represents the lowest point’.”
A Succession of Intensifying Difficulties
According to Edgar's law, there is no opinion poll so dismal about the government that it can't be coming after another more depressing; no fiscal forecast so poor that the finance ministry cannot worsen via mixed indications regarding taxation; no reservations regarding the leader that won't be heightened via hostile communications about a leadership challenge.
Asylum Policy Announcement
In that context, the recent revelation of strategies that aim to restrict the quantity of displaced persons granted entry to the UK, patterned after a notoriously mean Scandinavian model, was taken more favorably among party members than predicted. There were sparks of parliamentary discontent but no conflagration of dissent.
Tightening asylum rules is not the government's preferred area, but the current system is evidently broken while citizens are furious. The majority of representatives understand the reasoning that acceptance and community cohesion are more readily developed if assurance exists that the nation's borders remain protected.
Increasing Dissatisfaction
Quiet backbenches may also represent foreboding. MPs have learned that each issue is discussable alongside a purposeless head of adaptable beliefs. Current proclamations may be unannounced tomorrow. There is no need to advance hastily when victories can be won by attrition.
A regular criticism concerns the Prime Minister is scarcely operating the government at all, after assigning policy decisions to his chief of staff. That isn't to say the head of government lacks executive dynamism, he merely chooses to avoid arbitrating in departmental disputes or engage in long debates.
Leadership Style
Starmer came to party politics at an advanced stage, originally joining the legislature at the age of 52. He lacks instinct for Labour lore – the canon of past debates, drives, personalities and social allusions that bind a head to the broader organization and its feeling of common objective.
His innermost beliefs remain unknown including to ministers. As one senior party member states: “Keir is highly unusual as a prime minister in giving the impression that his private opinions are not for public consumption.”
Electoral Repercussions
The persona marketed as the Prime Minister in the recent polling battle has also not delivered its claimed rewards: administrative capability resulting in national renewal. If Britain still had a dual-party structure, the memory of previous difficulties with the previous government may continue patience with Labour.
That presages a crushing loss for party representatives in council and devolved elections in the coming spring. It will be a time of great danger for Starmer, provided he remains that long.
Succession Concerns
Missing from these calculations is agreement on the identity of a successor and their proposed policies may differ with existing administration plans. This defect within succession arrangements is mentioned by supporters of the leader as one of many reasons to continue supporting the incumbent.
While restive MPs may flinch at these alerts, they also hear within them the recognizable, empty ringing of low ambition that induces despair at the status quo. It represents the noise of lack of success to define Starmerism as simply a sequence of tactics for clinging on.
Concluding Thoughts
It remains challenging to summon loyalty toward such a purpose. And most Labour MPs have tried. They have adhered to official positions, supported it during canvassing, followed party discipline, believed assurances that their worries were considered.
Prime ministerial ousting involves significant danger, however, does it present greater hazards compared to feigning that the existing prime minister has answers regarding major issues that he never even names? Edgar's law recommends carefulness regarding the replacement of a sitting prime minister. The alternative might prove more disastrous.
“The burden of this sad time we have to accept; State true sentiments, not what we ought to say.”
