Keir Starmer’s Election Pitch: Change You Can’t Believe In
The British Labour Party will probably cruise to victory in July’s election after more than a decade of social vandalism by the Conservatives. But there is little popular enthusiasm for a party determined to promise as little change as possible.
Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks to the media on the first day of campaigning on May 23, 2024 in Gillingham, England. (Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)
Seven years ago, a Conservative prime minister called a snap general election at a time when the polls showed a persistently large double-digit gap between Britain’s two major parties. By the time the election was held, it was almost a dead heat. The party that expected to win by a landslide margin ended up without a parliamentary majority.
This time, nobody expects Rishi Sunak to emulate the surprising achievement of Jeremy Corbyn in 2017. When the Conservative leader announced yesterday that there will be an election at the start of July, several months ahead of schedule, his performance bore all the hallmarks of a man who has already given up.
Tory MPs are reported to be furious with the sudden move. A premature end to Sunak’s government will hopefully limit his opportunities for devising new ways of harassing immigrants, trans people, or other vulnerable groups.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.