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?
“I would like to be in Israel right now. And I nearly went to Israel last weekend. I was going to go out on the Sunday and come back on the Wednesday. And, you know, do at least a few days before coming back to do Strictly. So there are practical considerations around this. You are torn in that you would like to be out in the story right now. And the fact that I’ve committed to this other thing means that it’s not that easy. But as soon as I’m out of Strictly, I’m sure I’ll be out there and doing that. But in the meantime, in a strange way, and I’m sure it’s very hard to understand. I actually find it’s kind of helps me switch into both serious and Strictly quicker, having these two very intense things going on at the same time.”
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”