Does the debate over Diane Abbott and her future matter?
Keir Starmer didn’t count much, but we’re told there was a lot more going on in the leader’s office than expected, with internal disagreements over what to do with her causing confusion and delays.
High-profile Labor politicians such as Jess Phillips are now starting to take action, and a televised rally in front of supporters in Hackney has undoubtedly decimated the party’s attempts to get its message across on NHS waiting times.
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Abbott said there would be no ‘intimidation’ at the rally.
But does it move the dial politically? Especially when the party is 27 points ahead. Latest Sky News/YouGov poll Does Sir Keir want to do his best to maintain links with the Jewish community?
Maybe not at first. However, there may be secondary effects.
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Sir Keir is publicly determined to present a “transformed” Labor Party, moving away from the one that held Jeremy Corbyn in high regard.
The decision on Ms Abbott is part of a wider strategy. But there are still parts of the party who feel nostalgia for this era, and Sir Keir famously won leadership to keep them going.
However, there is a paradox in this poll that suggests there will be problems ahead. That’s right. If the polls are to be believed (many Conservatives do not), Labor will win a significant majority and take control of the top 10.
But Sir Keir’s rating is less than stellar.
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A YouGov/Sky News poll this week asked voters whether they thought he would be a good or bad prime minister. Almost half – 47% – say it is bad.. The older the voter, the more pessimistic he or she is.
Sir Keir starts on low bass. Not as bad as Rishi Sunak, but still bad. In contrast, only 33% said they thought he would be fine.
That level of enthusiasm suggests Sir Keir may not be enjoying much of a public opinion honeymoon, especially at a time when he is likely to have to make difficult decisions such as tax rises.
One of the themes of this election has been for the party to pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance tax or corporation tax, but to make clear there are no such restrictions on other taxes.
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Abbott said he would ‘stand in Hackney by any means necessary’.
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With rules restricting Tory borrowing and unsustainably stringent Whitehall spending plans, something has to give.
Judging by the first week of the campaign, it appears to be a tax. This is a topic the Conservatives will likely continue to ponder over the coming days.
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Sir Keir will need an army of supporters to protect him if he suddenly becomes unpopular.
But some of them are supporters who are unhappy with the way he has treated Mr Abbott.
This row may not be very important now or in this campaign, but it could spell trouble if the ties between leaders and parties are easily weakened.
Rishi Sunak could have told him that.
