Labour’s big beasts descended on Nottingham on Saturday for the party’s National Policy Forum (NPF).
Together with representatives from unions and other parties, they will hammer out what will be the main thrust of their manifesto.
The problem is that they are doing so in the wake of a by-election that was lost because of an unpopular policy.
Labor was accused of extending London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) into outer boroughs. Failure to take Uxbridge and South Ruislip this week..
It prompted leader Sir Keir Starmer to tell the NPF this morning: “If Labor Party policies end up on every Tory handbook then we’re doing something wrong.”
He has also faced off against Mr Khan, who was accused of losing support at a crucial moment in pushing the scheme forward.
It suggests the Labor leader plans to be even more cautious when it comes to making promises ahead of the general election.
But that approach may fuel unease among some in their own ranks, who are asking: What’s the point of power if you can’t bring about some radical policies?
And it may also give more ammunition to his detractors, who paint him as a professional fence-sitter.
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Get ready for a vicious and bloody fight for number 10.
The party leadership will no doubt consider that a price worth paying if it means they can replicate the success of Selby and Anstey in the by-election, where they Overturned a Tory majority of 20,000..
In the North Yorkshire contest it was national concerns – the cost of living and the NHS – that gave Labor a record-breaking victory.
They can hope that by remaining silent on specific policies they will repeat this result up and down the country.
However, for the delegates gathered in Nottingham, this leaves little room for manoeuvre.
Source by [Sky News]
