Starmer’s speech is over and the snap verdicts from the commentariat are in. Guido brings you a roundup…

The Independent’s Economics Editor Ben Chu branded Sir Keir’s main policy – a new ‘recovery bond’ as “meaningless“.

Will need to see details but Keir Starmer's "British recovery bond" idea, on the face of it, raises the same question as Rishi Sunak's "green gilt": how is it different from a regular government bond?

If the proceeds aren't hypothecated for specific projects it's meaningless

— Ben Chu (@BenChu_) February 18, 2021

The Guardian’s Jess Elgot noted that the set piece policy has already been called for by “Thatcher’s favourite think-tank the CPS”

The Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges calls the main attack over the economy not credible

This is the problem. This line of attack isn’t credible. “The Tories didn’t build an economy that could easily absorb the shock of a once in a century global pandemic”. https://t.co/qyWCCVf4fD

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) February 18, 2021

The Telegraph’s Tony Diver said it all sounded quite Tory…

Two new ideas from Starmer - the Recovery Bond and more startup loans.

Problem is they both amount to spending much more money on Tory policies (Startup Loans Scheme and Rishi's NIB).

Suspect that may weaken the argument that Tory economic policies have been rubbish since 2010.

— Tony Diver (@Tony_Diver) February 18, 2021

Meanwhile the left have decided that Starmer’s speech offered nothing new, and was sincerely lacking. Just hot air…

If you are going to compare yourself to 1940 and Beveridge Report you can’t just bring a diagnosis but also solutions.

“We can’t go back to business as usual” doesn’t really mean very much.

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) February 18, 2021

The Independent’s John Rentoul captured the mood. Starmer was anxious and leaning on his lectern. The whole affair seems a little overhyped…

Starmer occasionally leaning casually on the lectern, but still looking anxious pic.twitter.com/l4Pt4FoWgI

— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) February 18, 2021

The Sun’s Harry Cole on the wisdom of pre-briefing the policy proposals as being “on a scale of the 1945 Beveridge Report”

I would humbly suggest that may have been a little bit over hyped.

— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) February 18, 2021

Robert Colvile, boss of the CPS think-tank, quips that “if Sir Keir is now promising not to raise taxes in a recovery and taking up our idea of a recovery bond, perhaps when the rules allow, we should get him in for a lunch in the boardroom and give him some more policy ideas.” Quite…