Most people don’t give a toss about politics, mainly as the ‘they’re all the same anyway’ attitude is now all-pervasive. They only notice when this stuff imposes itself on their real lives by force.
Pretty much.
Apparently the biggest political issue in the UK is the casting choices of the American entertainment corporation Disney. Snow White being replaced by black trans or something, with the Woke Police coming round to wrestle any 1937 versions of the film out of your hands. Amazing isn't it? grown adults addicted to drama on social media (something they deride young people for) angrily parroting it!
Suppose when your ideology is based upon lies and bullying you've got to reach for more and more ridiculous reasons why you are still right about everything!
No its not.
Okay fair enough, I'll give you that. But with a 5 thousand majority there are plenty of seats more marginal than that.
The link above suggests that Labour are likely to win it, where is the evidence that Labour are losing support?
And why you don't explain who you think Labour are losing votes to? As I said I agree with you that there is an issue with shy Tories, but if they vote Tory on election day it won't be because of Labour's stance on brexit.
anyway – we will get a telling off from Binners shortly 🙂
Nah, I am not currently being in anyway critical of Keir Starmer. Binners won't tolerate what he perceives to be criticism of the current leader Labour leader. He has no problem at all with criticism of the previous Labour leader though.
If I were in Labour management I might well be saying keepmdoing what you’re doing. And after you’re in power start doing stuff. I mean it’s not like a party never changed its mind during a term, is it?
I really don't believe Starmer/Reeves will do that but they could easily if they wanted to as Starmer as promised so little that it would be easy along with fact that a lot of voters don't look that closely at manifestos anyway so wouldn't even know if Labour were doing what they said they would.
As for the polls, we need to remember that the election has started yet so the attacks and undermining of Starmer haven't started. He has made himself open to attacks with so many changes of policy that my attack line would be around inability to trust someone who changes their policy every 10 minutes combined with just copying the Tory party. Plus look at how well the tory party have sorted out inflation (by election time) even though they have Ukraine, Covid, BS, BS, etc,.
Don't over estimate the electorate and let Brexit be a reminder of how easily fooled they are.
Politics is all about being evasive and upsetting as few people as possible
Maybe if we raised our expectations of politicians our lives might improve.
why hasn’t Sunak fired Dories?
LibDems argued this yesterday, they have a point.
why hasn’t Sunak fired Dories?
Because he's so weak that he can't do anything that might ignite another civil war with the loony tunes wing of the party of which Dorres is a member
For normal people the idea of just not bothering to do your job, while expecting to still be paid handsomely for it is absolutely ridiculous, but these are the people that made Boris Johnson PM and that is his life's philosophy
Is Rishi Sunak's voting record any better than Nadine Dorries's?
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25428/rishi_sunak/richmond_%28yorks%29/votes
I can't see that Sunak represents 'another wing of the Tory Party' to Nadine Dorries's.
They both seem to have voted along very similar lines in the past
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/11397/nadine_dorries/mid_bedfordshire/votes
Rishi Sunak is very much a fully paid-up member of the headbanger wing of the Tory party. In fact nowadays its easier to ask who isn't?
Its personal rather than policy-based. She loathes him, as not only did he assassinate her hero, he scuppered her elevation to the Lords by said hero.
He's too weak to upset anyone for fear of another civil war breaking out and he probably thinks he can do without another bout of Tory bloodletting. We all could, but since when did they give a flying **** what us lot think?
Parliament’s commissioner for standards said: “Having considered the information available to me, I have decided that the breach of the code appears to have been inadvertent. I confirm that the matter is now closed.”
"Inadvertent" I'll be using that one with the taxman or when I next get pulled for a speeding/motoring offence - funny how for ordinary folk 'ignorance of laws & rules is no excuse'...
The whole thing stinks. Didn't she buy a huge wodge of shares in the childcare company just before it got a very lucrative government contract?
Yes, I'm sure it was just a complete coincidence
<p style="text-align: left;">Rishi Sunak is very much a fully paid-up member of the headbanger wing of the Tory party. In fact nowadays its easier to ask who isn’t?</p>
He always was.
Where did the idea he wasn't come from? Paid-up credentials.
Too much gets lost on personality these days. Tories are only interested in draining the source of money (the state) to their friends - whilst pretending their mates in the private sector are the source of wealth.
There's not much else to it really. Since Thatcher - we had the wholesale dismantling of the state to the private sector which created the growth during the 80s onwards.
No party is now investing in the state to produce the money that Capitalism pulls from, hence a desperate pot of cross-party politicians with zero answers to the problems they created in a blind adherence to shitty economics.
Brain farts (Toynbee, Rawnsley, Hutton -in the Guardian pretending we're not a rich country are not helping the left at all with their dumb-ass analysis.)
As for the Tories - and 'tax cuts' promote growth - good luck with that one. Investment for business is tax deductible anyway.
We're on a road to nowhere.
We’re on a road to nowhere.
Which is why I am fairly optimistic. You cannot keep traveling down a road that leads nowhere. And all the more so when people have an expectation of arriving somewhere.
Hence also the reason why the UK's enormous wealth, relative to other nations, is constantly played down.
What a suprise
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/25/financial-support-double-mps-lose-seats-uk-election
Which is why I am fairly optimistic. You cannot keep traveling down a road that leads nowhere. And all the more so when people have an expectation of arriving somewhere.
Gawd knows why you have that optimism Its not just the UK is on a road to nowhere - its on a blindly obvious destructive path with both labour and Tories supporting that direction of travel and a constant pumping out of propaganda to fool people that that is the only path
Gawd knows why you have that optimism
Because unlike you I look at reality instead of immersing myself in a narrative for which there is no evidence.
It is obvious to most people, although perhaps not you, that it is very unlikely that the UK will have a Tory government in a couple of years time. That imo will be a step in the right direction.
It is obvious that austerity is no longer considered a vote-winning economic argument. The 2010 general election was fought with both the Tories and the LibDems arguing in favour of austerity and balanced budgets, their combined vote represented an electoral majority. Today no one talks about austerity, certainly not directly, as it is now considered to be a dirty word.
It is obvious that the Tories attempt to deflect attention away from their own failures in government by firing up a culture war and focusing on issues such as asylum seekers isn't bringing the political benefits which they might have expected and which has benefited some European governments, such as in Poland and Hungary. I consider this to be a very positive thing.
Sure, Labour isn't offering anything which suggests a comprehensive and radical alternative to the Tories but that doesn't necessarily mean that politics isn't moving in the right direction.
The Tories are now a hugely discredited political party, that for me is the important first step. If Labour attempt to take us down the same road they will meet the same fate. Both the Tories and Labour being discredited in the eyes of the electorate is a good thing imo, I no faith in either of them.
We obviously need a radical alternative to the failed neoliberal experiment. The risk associated with discredited mainstream political parties is of course the possibility of the rise of the far-right. Unlike many other European countries that thankfully seems currently to be a very low risk.
Attempts by the Tories to move the party further to the right, whether economically as in the infamous mini budget, or socially as in attempting to ignite a culture war, have not changed the Tories's fortune.
There are plenty of reasons to be cheerful imo. Although I don't expect to convince you TJ, as you wallow in Private Frazer levels of doom and gloom.
It is obvious that austerity is no longer considered a vote-winning economic argument.
tell labour that 🙂
You know that I tend to choose my words very carefully TJ, I said:
Today no one talks about austerity, certainly not directly, as it is now considered to be a dirty word.
Of course austerity is still considered an option by the Tories, as it is now too by Labour who want to be seen as "responsible" with the economy as the Tories.
But neither can talk about it openly because unlike 13 years ago the electorate won't buy it.
I consider this to be a very good thing.
why hasn’t Sunak fired Dories?
He is pretty much powerless against her though. The only thing really in his control is to remove the whip which only matters if you want to stand as candidate in the next election.
I think there is a chance of her going fairly soon since that will put the byelection either just before or during the tory party conference to cause maximum irritation to Sunak.
Today no one talks about austerity, certainly not directly, as it is now considered to be a dirty word.
The most wretched thing about austerity is there was no actual austerity - Tory government's spent plenty of money - just not on the good stuff.
You see the money is always there but it's used a wrecking ball on all of us, both parties are playing this game currently. We should demand more and put them right at every opportunity that there is no lack of money.
Journalists such as Peston simply don't do their job when it comes to government finances. Only Andy Verity of the mainstream reporters has gone into detail about this.
The BBC even conducted an internal report on their economic language - the UK government 'running out of money.' They concluded not to talk about it like that where possible as it was helping create an inaccurate understanding of the economy.
We will simply get austerity by the back door this time. Fact is - both parties waiting for the economy to magically grow is the daftest most illogical position to take. One which Reeves is stuck in an echo chamber on.
We obviously need a radical alternative to the failed neoliberal experiment. The risk associated with discredited mainstream political parties is of course the possibility of the rise of the far-right. Unlike many other European countries that thankfully seems currently to be a very low risk.
And here is the really depressing news:
"Over the past year, support for the anti-immigrant, pro-Russian Alternative for Germany party (AfD) has nearly doubled to more than 20 percent in POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, a record.
The party is now in second place, just five percentage points behind the center-right Christian Democrats."
A party, led by a man which the German courts have decided it is fair to call a Nazi, is now the second most popular party in Germany. When have we seen that before?
"In fact, a German prosecutor in Hesse determined last month that demonstrators were well within their rights to call Höcke a “Nazi.” That follows a 2019 ruling by a German court that Höcke could reasonably be referred to as a “fascist” during an organized protest."
And yes, at the heart of the rising public appeal of Germany's far-right Nazi party is (yet again) an economic crisis. As always foreigners and those with a minority cultural background are being used as scapegoats.
But neither can talk about it openly because unlike 13 years ago the electorate won’t buy it.
I consider this to be a very good thing.
Both labour and tories are still saying the same thing just using different words for austerity - and you think using weasel words to try to disguise this is a good thing?
Not the view from here( Scotland). truthfullness and honour is widely regarded as positive. mealy mouthed weasel words do not go down well.
Just because thats the attack vector people are using doesn't make my statement any less true. Politicians vary but they all have to do whatever it takes to win votes, and they will. Otherwise they don't get to be politicians.
Everyone wants their politicians to have honesty and integrity. The problem is that the ones who don't have those characteristics are good at persuading people that they do. Or convincing them that the opposition don't. And they have no qualms about doing either.
and you think using weasel words to try to disguise this is a good thing?
Absolutely! In the 2010 general election campaign the Tories talked openly about the alledged need for austerity.
Labour had quite correctly built up a substantial deficit to deal with an unprecedented global banking crises. It was one of the reasons why despite the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s most people felt relatively little pain - unemployment and home repossessions didn't reach the levels they had previously had in recent history.
The Tories and the LibDems between them successfully convinced the majority of voters, with devastating consequences, that austerity was absolutely necessary to clear the deficit over the period of one parliament.
There will be no talk of the need for "austerity" in the next general election campaign. If the next Tory or Labour government implements austerity measures it will only be after they have lied or misled voters. That has to be immeasurably more desirable than having the backing of voters for failed and cruel right-wing economic policies.
Point missed Ernie
Both labour and tories are promising austerity - just using different words. Both have made it clear thats their policy.
Nah it's you that has obviously missed the point. Or more likely deliberately ignoring it.
And the point is that unlike 13 years ago the majority of the electorate won't be fooled into believing austerity is a necessary bitter medicine.
Both labour and tories are promising austerity
Show me where Labour are telling voters that we need to implement "austerity" in the same way David Cameron and Nick Clegg claimed it was necessary.
One example - labour are refusing to remove the 2 child benefit limit - despite the scots government having done so for years on a fixed budget.
Plenty of labour policies have been dropped on grounds "it cannot be afforded" Obviously false as the Scots government have shown it can be done on a fixed budget
Thats austerity by other names and yes - they have fooled the electorate or think they have into believing this austerity is needed. Its exactly the same as Cameron and Osbourne
The leader has been emphatic about prioritising “financial responsibility” over reckless spending as the party seeks to reassure voters it can manage the economy.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/16/labour-keep-two-child-benefit-cap-says-keir-starmer
TJ, are there any policies that limit spending that you would consider sensible, rather than classed as austerity?
Edit - the reason I ask is that your example of the 2 child rule seems to me to be entirely reasonable and could perhaps free up funds for other spending that benefit other members of society. Ultimately every party has to strike a balance and that 2 child rule is somehting that can be 'planned for' so to speak.
There are other issues that face us all that we have less control over - all kids should be getting a great education would be one such example. Starmer would take away charitable status for private schools and use that cash for the greater good. I think Labour are being cautious rather than 'conservative'.
One example – labour are refusing to remove the 2 child benefit limit – despite the scots government having done so for years on a fixed budget.
No that isn't an example of Labour telling voters that we need to implement “austerity” in the same way David Cameron and Nick Clegg claimed it was necessary.
Why isn't the word "austerity" even mentioned? David Cameron and Nick Clegg didn't have any problem at all using the word.
There goes another thread…
It's ruined now isn't it?
Does that mean that you won't bother clicking on it anymore?
No, I’ll keep reading in the hope that someone other than the same few noisy voices have some news or something to say about Sunak.
Fair point, I’m not one of the noisy voices but did get drawn into the austerity bit. Easy done just picking up at the end of long threads
have some news
You don't think Labour on 50% and the Tories on 25% in the latest opinion poll is news?
You sound even more positive than me.
Anyway, Sunak. OH was working at Wensleydale Show today and apparently the little fella was flitting around as fast as his little legs could carry him from one photo op to the next. Literally quick word, smile, photo and off to the next one.
I’m sure we’ll soon be treated to his man of the people routine on social media once his PR team have sifted through the images and found the ones where nobody is giving him the V’s behind his back
Did he arrive by helicopter?
Mad Nad has finally got round to resigning saying in her resignation letter that Rishi Sunak had put her personal safety at risk by “whipping a public frenzy against her” and disclosed that police had visited her home last week, warning her about a threat to her security
Did he arrive by helicopter?
She didn't see one but it was probably parked at his house which isn't very far away.
The deckchairs are being rearranged on the deck of the Titanic. Grant Schapps (or whatever his name is this week) is now defence secretary 😂
https://twitter.com/guardian/status/1697164039921520988?s=20
Grant Schapps (or whatever his name is this week) is now defence secretary 😂
Tomorrow he will announce that the recruiting crisis has been solved by the cunning plan of giving each soldier four different personas.
Is anyone donating to Sunaks crowdfunder now they have cancelled the helicopter contract?
Although given its going to be supported by other means possibly no need. Would be amusing if they start flying him around in the gunners seat in an apache when nothing else is available.
Would be amusing if they start flying him around in the gunners seat in an apache when nothing else is available.
Not seeing anything amusing about that dickhead being near something capable of 1000 rounds a minute....
This is Shapps 5th cabinet position in 12 months 😳
Summed up nicely by Huffpost
I keep forgetting that Shapps is the cousin of Mick Jones from The Clash.
Will he stay, or will he go?
I see we're at the 'Bring Back National Service' stage of the Tory drain-circling.
https://twitter.com/NicholasTyrone/status/1697220616481390966
A little earlier than expected, if I'm honest. I hope they've left enough time for Shapps the spiv to complete his full set of ministerial appointments, he still has to bag Education, Health and Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I keep forgetting that Shapps is the cousin of Mick Jones from The Clash.
Will he stay, or will he go?
With these career opportunities coming along so regularly, why would he quit?
This is Shapps 5th cabinet position in 12 months
Or Michael Green, or Corinne Stockheath, or Sabastian Fox? I'm sure the MOD will be well pleased to have an ex-photocopier salesman with at least 3 dodgy pseudonyms in charge...
what was the bad thing ?
https://twitter.com/DmitryOpines/status/1697171314656628927?t=tW4mBoLnEfK2-974_-Jvbg&s=19
But if Jez is Secretary of State for Defence, then who’s Mark?
Rishi is definitely Johnson
ive just realised
https://twitter.com/ChrisKimberley/status/1697369353841262845?t=nDPLtCD3yfOdBae5136sRw&s=19
Everyone worries about AI taking over the world, but imagine if Conservative politicians achieved self-awareness?
Everyone worries about AI taking over the world, but imagine if Conservative politicians achieved self-awareness?
There's a strong argument that they haven't failed. They've paid themselves a lot of money and directed lots of public money to their friends and donors.
That's their sole measure of success. Have they personally profited from what they've done? Have they had opportunities (like TV appearances) they wouldn't have had otherwise?
Yes?
Success.
Tories are just like all the shit managers being described on the ", unreasonable requests" thread. The health of the company (in this case UK plc) is of no real interest to them, it's simply a method of getting paid.
Yes it's the Guardian so it was never going to be complimentary but that's quite the evisceration.
I've just got around to reading the Nads resignation letter. Wow, that is some unhinged shit right there.
Why is it that we have had five Conservative prime ministers since 2010, with not one of the previous four having left office as the result of losing a general election?
Well Nadine, Cameroon resigned becasue he lost a referendum, May lost significant amounts of support, (that you were part of stirring) after trying to do the impossible, and resigned, Johnson was caught in too many scandals and was forced to resign, and Truss tried to destroy the economy. I mean, I know she has a bookie-wookie to sell, but is that ring wing Tory politics now then? conspiracy theories unmoored from reality?
I’ve just got around to reading the Nads resignation letter. Wow, that is some unhinged shit right there.
If thats how batshit crazy her resignation letter is, just imagine how absolutely hatstand her book is going to be, given that its her tinfoil-helmeted, gin-addled account of 'The Assassination of Boris Johnson', working title 'The Plot'
I see that the publishers have put the release date back on legal advice. I would imagine that particular legal advice was delivered in a form like "are you out of your ****ing mind? You can't publish that shit!"
I see we’re at the ‘Bring Back National Service’ stage of the Tory drain-circling.
You almost have to applaud the awe inspiring stupidty though.
"Young people overwhelmingly don't vote for us, what shall we do?"
"Bring back National Service?"
"Any other ideas?"
"No"
There was some Tory thinktank dweeb on Five Live this morning - obviously where this latest nonsense came from.
He was adamant that it was a more modern version of 'National Service' and wasn't about guns and marching or any of that type of thing. When asked what it was would actually involve instead, he didn't appear to have a clue. They hadn't got that far...
They really are just bumping along the bottom, aren't they?
It would be more useful if, rather than idiot policies aimed at young people who would rather poke out their own eyes than vote Tory, they created an obligatory course for the over 60's that taught them critical thinking skills, and how to spot the obvious propaganda in The Mail, and why the statement "Not everything you read on Facebook is the truth" might come in handy. Course failure means you get less pension.
He was adamant that it was a more modern version of ‘National Service’ and wasn’t about guns and marching or any of that type of thing.
Maybe by more modern they mean like community service, litter picking, cleaning up graffiti, that kind of thing.
The kind of thing criminals currently get sentenced to do because the jails are too full and underfunded.
Two birds with one stone in the tory play book.
an obligatory course for the over 60’s that taught them critical thinking skills, and how to spot the obvious propaganda in The Mail,
Oh they'd never do that, the Mail, Express, Telegraph etc is just the media wing of the Tories.
Had a discussion the other day at work about this, a few colleagues saying how their parents had started reading the Mail etc and how it drew you in gradually by being just a nice paper, British values, a good TV guide and so on. And then the drip drip drip of right wing anti-immigrant, anti-EU sentiment creeps in via what, on the face of it, are harmless stories about a good plucky Brit farmer somewhere struggling against EU imports or a happy British family who've been on the council/hospital waiting list for years with just a suggestion that immigrants might be getting those places instead.
Absolutely don't want people to be applying critical thinking skills to that.
Dumb down education, keep the people thinking that the enemy are arriving in small boats rather than private jets and limos. Distract a bit, divert some blame elsewhere and then point out the failures of society (avoiding any notion that you might have had anything to do with that!) and tell the oldies that the way back is some good old fashioned discipline and a bit of British spirit.
Maybe mention the war a bit.
The irony is that the last people to take part in National Service in the UK were born in 44-45. So no-one under the age of 78 has ever done it but the Daily Mail reading populace who are thinking "this would be a great idea!" would be the first to shit their pants on a parade ground or cry for mummy when put through a bit of escape and evasion.
Oh they’d never do that, the Mail, Express, Telegraph etc is just the media wing of the Tories.
you know it's been a bad week for the tories as the fail is running "Di tapes", the usually tactic of just not covering thestories isn't going to cut the mustard.
The irony is that the last people to take part in National Service in the UK were born in 44-45. So no-one under the age of 78 has ever done it
Bit like he numpties who bang on about ww2 but their only experience was watching the 70’s war movies.
They really are flailing around trying to come up with stuff.
I just find the use of the term ‘National Service’ when it is actually not,a bit of a con, as a kid in the 70’s you’d’ hear the oldies bang on about how they should bring back National service for the youth of the day. It’s almost some cliche.
Still easier to throw the words ‘national service’ around than er actually do anything.
I see we’re at the ‘Bring Back National Service’ stage of the Tory drain-circling.
I've said previously that I reckon they're going into the next election with Capital Punishment as their key manifesto pledge - they're following the Republicans / Abortion 'strategy'.
Still easier to throw the words ‘national service’ around than er actually do anything
We are the Conservatives. We firmly believe in the small state and not getting involved in peoples lives...apart from forcing young people into some Stalinist People's Army to please pensioners and the editors of the Telegraph . Obvs
I reckon they’re going into the next election with Capital Punishment as their key manifesto pledge
Aye, given the mandatory irony bypass for all prospective tory candidates they'll campaign for it on the back of an asylum seeker suicide bomber :/
they created an obligatory course for the over 60’s that taught them critical thinking skills, and how to spot the obvious propaganda in The Mail
My 83 year old dad, who hasn't driven for 10 years, was up in arms about ULEZ and the war on motorists today.
I expressed concern that as a motorist I wasn’t aware of anyone being at war with me, and I asked who was after me and what were they doing to me. He didn't appear to know. Even my equally right wing nutter mum called a truce and suggested we leave the cafe.
So ONS figures have been revised (as is normal) showing the UK is no longer way behind Euro countries in being the worst of the G7 to bounceback from the pandemic.
In fact it's now only behind the US and Canada I believe (who have had much bigger stimulus packages) - so expect the Tories to dine out on this one.
However big caveat - other countries have yet to revise their figures. And using GDP as a post-pandemic metric of success is always going to be full of problems - but was seized upon by the Centrist broadcasters to bash the Tories around the head with over and over again (without truly understanding the revisions that take place )
Also 'bigger picture' current 3 month growth in the UK is 0.2% to June 23. Let's be real we're a low growth country, and collapse and expansion during the pandemic is such an outlier of regular metrics. That said Germany is currently stagnating too.
But expect Tory noises on this.
They can trumpet economomic growth all they like but it won’t make the slightest bit of difference to your average person who’s seen their real incomes decimated due to the rest of their **** ups.
Even the Daily Mail is now going with the ‘Everything is Broken line in their editorials
John Major was presiding over economic growth back in 1997. Fat lot of good it did him.
Anybody else shocked to find that the electoral boundaries are drawn up to favour Tory voters?
No, me neither.
To be fair, the Labour government also tweaked the boundaries when they had the chance
you know it’s been a bad week for the tories as the fail is running “Di tapes”, the usually tactic of just not covering thestories isn’t going to cut the mustard.
Al-Fayed had the good grace to die yesterday so that's the excuse for revisiting everything about the People's Princess...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66690623
I can see why some MPs might be getting desperate, hut surely they know it doesn't matter who their leader is when 13 years of austerity, brexit, Trussonomics etc etc have trashed the country
https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1697668599442288692?t=GPxI10Vudg_W_YdH3cWCSg&s=19
I can see why some MPs might be getting desperate, hut surely they know it doesn't matter who their leader is when 13 years of austerity, brexit, Trussonomics etc etc have trashed the country
https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUK/status/1697668599442288692?t=GPxI10Vudg_W_YdH3cWCSg&s=19
David Maddox is political editor of the Daily Express, no doubt he has his own agenda and it is impossible to know, until the critical number is reached, how many letters of no confidence have been handed to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee.
I can't imagine that there is any real taste for another leadership election right now. What is certain though is that the Tory Party is in a deep crisis, and it is above all now idealogical rudderless - the perfect conditions for vicious infighting as different factions jostle for control.
And yet despite all that the Tories still appear to be setting the agenda, certainly in respect of the economy.
Admiral Mordaunt is leading an interal military coup, soon we will have a new Tory Junta.
Could be three unelected PMs ( yes i understand the PM is not strictly elected) on the bounce, must be a record.
it's not Sunak that has failed but rather neoliberal capitalism has failed in its own terms. The tragedy is that Starmer and Reeves are devoted to giving it another go.