Could the Labour Party blow its big opportunity?
Sir Keir Starmer’s party is terrified of letting victory slip through its fingers
Britain will hold a general election on July 4th. Announcing the news in Downing Street on May 22nd, his expression plaintive and his jacket soaked with rain, Rishi Sunak had the air of a man who knew what the result would be. Since he took office in October 2022, the prime minister has tried anything and everything to reverse the Conservative Party’s ailing poll numbers—diligent promises to reduce inflation and health-care waiting lists; bellicose swagger about deporting migrants; an offer of stability, then change, then stability again. To no avail.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “The door to Number 10 opens”
Britain May 25th 2024
- Could the Labour Party blow its big opportunity?
- What’s behind Britain’s earthworm cataclysm?
- “A day of shame” for the British state
- The sorry story of children in care in England
- When is a non-alcoholic drink alcohol-free?
- Rishi Sunak’s snap election is odd and illogical—much like him
- The world’s first museum of homelessness
From the May 25th 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Britain
Has the Royal Navy become too timid?
A new paper examines how its culture has changed
A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition
Turkeys vote against Christmas
David Lammy’s plan to shake up Britain’s Foreign Office
Diplomats will be tasked with growing the economy and cutting migration
Britain’s government has spooked markets and riled businesses
Tax rises were inevitable. Such a shaky start was not
Labour’s credibility trap
Who can believe Rachel Reeves?