Dear John,
It’s been another frenetic 24 hours in the election campaign with today’s top story being the awkward reconciliation of Diane Abbott and Keir Starmer.
Keir Starmer has confirmed that Diane Abbott is "free to stand as a Labour candidate" in the upcoming general election. His statement ended several days of speculation and controversy during which Starmer appeared increasingly uncomfortable. Abbott has been in Parliament since 1987 and still commands significant support from her constituents and those on the left of Labour. Despite having the whip restored earlier this week, there had been reports that she might be barred from running for Labour. A number of senior Labour figures, including Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, went on record with their support for her.
In reinstating Abbott as a Labour candidate, Starmer praised her as a "trailblazer" and acknowledged her significant contributions to politics. In response, Abbott has expressed her intention to campaign for a Labour victory, and Labour's National Executive Committee is expected to support her candidacy.
But it’s far from ‘happy families’ now. The controversy has sparked a fierce backlash from the Labour left, who accuse the leadership of a ruthless purge of left-wing candidates. All the evidence suggests that any future Labour government will have a significant amount of unhelpful tension bubbling away just under the surface.
Elsewhere…
Labour's Lead in the Polls: Labour continues to hold a substantial lead in the polls ahead of the general election. Recent polls show Labour leading by 24 to 25 points over the Conservatives, with Labour polling at around 45-46% and the Conservatives at 21%. Nothing the Conservatives do seems to shift the needle.
Faiza Shaheen's De-selection and Legal Action: Economist Faiza Shaheen has been de-selected by Labour’s National Executive Committee due to her social media activity. Shaheen has accused the party of racism, Islamophobia, and bullying, and says she is considering legal action against the party. A headache Starmer could do without.
Rishi Sunak's Campaign Challenges Mount: Rishi Sunak’s job of persuading the public to stick with him got even harder as a damning report from the IFS set out the UK’s dismal economic performance under the Conservatives since 2010. Among many damaging findings, was one that showed income growth during that period was the “worst in generations”. Any lingering belief that the Conservative Party is the party of strong economics must now be dead, surely?
Another Tory Defection: Conservative MP, Mark Logan, has defected to Labour. In doing so, he becomes the third Tory MP to flip in just over a month. Logan cited the need for a "new government" as his reason for crossing the floor, dealing another blow to Sunak's rapidly diminishing authority.
