INVENIRE

Reform needs a reality check I can’t imagine being Keir Starmer at the moment. You’d imagine, with 403 MPs, that it was easier than ever to be Prime Minister: with that many backbenchers, bills amount to decrees. Reality begs to differ. Having promised not to raise taxes on working people, the nearest available method to filling the “black hole” — cutting spending — has been scuppered too. A revolt by Labour backbenchers has gutted his ministry’s attempt to reform welfare spending. In the most recent edition of Prime Ministers’ Questions, following this U-turn, he failed to confirm that Rachel Reeves would keep her job, leaving the Chancellor in tears. Ordinarily, a series of Labour faults of this sort would put the ball firmly in the Tory court. In the 70s, “Labour isn’t working” meant “Vote Conservative” — the implication was obvious. However, the trends of the past twelve months suggest that Reform has been best positioned to capitalise on Labour failures. National popular vote poll...