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It ain't all rosy for Keir Starmer and here's why

It ain't all rosy for Keir Starmer and here's why

Saturday 06 July 2024

It ain't all rosy for Keir Starmer and here's why

Saturday 06 July 2024


Sir Keir Starmer has taken the keys to Number 10 after a Labour landslide in the UK General Election.

But there is much more to this result.

William Green, a former Westminster political journalist now based in Guernsey and commenting here in a personal capacity, lifts the lid.

Liz Truss has LOST her seat.

This is the Portillo Moment of this election. Damning verdict on the outgoing government. Absolutely extraordinary.

A broken Rishi Sunak had already conceded victory to Sir Keir Starmer before all seats were counted before 5am. Mr Sunak called Sir Kier to congratulate the Labour leader who will be British prime minister.

Would be Labour cabinet ministers lost their seats to a green and independents, while Tories won a seat against Labour amid a crushing defeat with multiple Tory cabinet ministers losing as Lib Dems improved their tally.

Nigel Farage's Reform gained a parliamentary foothold with four seats. The Greens also had a good night with four MPs elected. Reform also came second in many places, while Labour and Tories lost to Greens.

The SNP have had a terrible night.

Wes Streeting, the incoming health secretary and Labour star, scraped in by a few hundred seats, while Jeremy Corbyn won against Labour.

The challenge for Starmer is that support for Labour could be shallow and boomerang at the next election much as it did with the Tories after Boris's majority to Sunak's devastating defeat.

His own majority in his London seat was slashed, while other Labour MPs saw reduced majorities.

Starmer says the "sunshine of hope" is returning and promises "national renewal" and a government of service to the British people. Talking about "turning the page" and rebuilding our country.

But amid the turbulent trends, Starmer will need to deliver fast and build confidence and trust to win another term.

That includes how to address concerns of the millions that backed Nigel Farage and Reform UK at the ballot box as well as the total of four Reform MPs in the Commons. And handle this grouping with a Commons platform for Mr Farage.

Interactions between independents who won against Labour in connection to the Gaza war and Reform will be interesting.

With such a majority, Starmer may find his own side eventually become the opposition.

On top of that there is massive global insecurity with wars and conflict to climate and critical elections with

UK partners from France to America.

The two party dominance also seems to have fractured with multiple parties and independents in with shouts on multiple seats.

Add in the disproportion between seats and share of overall votes such as Reform looking like gaining more of popular vote than Lib Dems but fewer seats.

Is it the beginning of the end of first past the post and electoral reform?

Votes for 16 year olds as promised by Labour could be the springboard for change, although Labour may be less keen on change given its result on low turnout and relatively low popular vote as the political system fractures.

Lots of challenges ahead.

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