After 13 years the Tories have accumulated a lot of scandalous baggage. That Labour will somehow be different is doubtful. Politicians are hungry for power (opposition=impotence) and will do all they can (a) to get power and (b) retain it.
Becoming a distant memory but reflect on some of the Blair Brown era which included:
- the cupboard is bare - Liam Byrne letter to his successor at the Treasury
- dodgy dossier - weapons of mass destruction
- Peter Mandelson - aka Prince of Darkness for good reasons
- involvement in Afghanistan
- PFI deals
- "no more boom or bust" Gordon presided over a ruinous financial meltdown
- Robin Cook lasted only weeks as Foreign Secretary - resigned when an affair became public
- presided over parliamentary expenses scandal
- Cherie Blair property dealings
I doubt Starmer will be any different. I believe him to be a decent well intentioned person. But he has already been flexible on policy - eg: nationalisation, NHS outsourcing, ban tuition fees, £28bn green pledge, wealth taxes, income tax increases etc.
He is simply playing in the same political game - being economical and selective in the language he uses to avoid alienating any potential voters or the left wing of the Labour party.
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