S
ir, In his piece “Dissent over Gaza is a wake-up call for Starmer” (Oct 27), Patrick Maguire seeks to outline four key lessons for Sir Keir Starmer and his team arising from the tragic events in the Middle East. In reality, these amount to one simple “lesson” that has always troubled the Labour Party more than its opponents. Namely, that preparation for, and taking on the mantle of, government is materially, and often painfully, different from being a party of opposition.
After Labour’s 13 and a half years in the political wilderness, it is not surprising that all those in frontline positions on the opposition benches are having to adjust to this difficult challenge, just as those of us who were fortunate enough
The Flash Sale.
£1 a month for 12 months.