It has been a year since Keir Starmer summoned “the sunlight of hope” and declared an end to 14 years of misery.
Dewy-eyed hacks could barely contain themselves. Krishnan Guru-Murthy signalled the end of “personality-driven” politics, and claimed it would be so tranquil in Westminster that it would be a “challenge” for broadcasters to cope. Andrew Marr even insisted a “wall of money” would come pouring into the country, and we were all lucky enough to live in a “a little haven of peace and stability” now that serious people were back in charge. Obviously James O’Brien welcomed the return of the grown-ups.
It would take some time to adjust to ‘The Quiet’ era of politics. How’s that going?
Andy Haldane, Burnham’s recent adviser on the economy who has not taken up a No10 job, told Andrew Marr on LBC:
“The market now suspects that this is a traditional tax-and-spend socialist government with better TikTok videos…
imposing windfall taxes on oil & gas or on banks or upping capital gains tax would […] repeat the mistake that Rachel made […] The Achilles heel, the fiscal Achilles heel of this government thus far has been its unwillingness and/or inability to cut public spending.”