“Strong popular mandate for change” has been received from the July 8 ballot in the United Kingdom, the new prime minister Keir Starmerin order to carry out “the important reform program promised by the Labor party” tells “Vima” the Matthew Godwina researcher at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, although he agrees with those who argue that voters were not as electrified with Starmer as they were with Tony Blair in 1997.
Is the Starmer government strong?
“He has a strong mandate from the voters, one of the largest in recent decades. The prime minister was given a mandate to carry out the major reform program promised by the party. There were issues with some Labor candidates losing to independents, but the small number of independent MPs elected is unlikely to weaken the government’s mandate.”
Could Starmer develop into a new Tony Blair?
“Parallels have been drawn between 2024 and New Labour’s 1997 victory under Sir Tony Blair, mainly because of Labour’s landslide majority and the sharp drop in Conservative support. But observers are right to say that voters were not as electrified with Starmer as they were with Blair.’
Will fiscal discipline continue?
“The new Labor government is very constrained by the country’s fiscal situation and geopolitical challenges. The prime minister and finance minister ran a very disciplined election campaign in terms of their commitments. For example, they did not commit to a tight timetable for increasing defense spending. The previous government also left little room for maneuver in the new one in terms of spending, so I believe that fiscal discipline will continue. For the government to invest meaningfully, the country’s economy needs to grow, so rightly that is the priority of new minister Rachel Reeves.”
Will the Starmer government attempt to renegotiate the Brexit deal?
“We now have a government that will be able to rebuild and strengthen the relationship with the EU after the turmoil of the Conservative years. The UK recently hosted the summit of the European Political Community, alongside a concerted effort to forge a closer security agreement. In terms of UK-EU economic relations, the government will prioritize aligning veterinary policy above other issues. I think the Starmer government has room to be creative in its relations with the UK’s biggest trading partner.”
Are changes expected in refugee policy?
“On the refugee issue, the new Labor government will need to act quickly as it remains a key concern for voters. The good news for Starmer is that he can develop a more productive and cooperative relationship with France and other European allies to dismantle the gangs of smugglers at the heart of the problem.”
In foreign policy?
“I wouldn’t expect big changes on issues like Ukraine and the Middle East crisis. We will see a greater focus on the countries of the Global South. The new foreign minister is in a position to strengthen these ties.”
Will the polarization fueled by former prime minister Rishi Sunak ease?
“The polarization of UK politics remains a challenge. Starmer openly campaigned as a moderate. I believe that the political tone will change with the new prime minister, he will be less competitive than the previous government. Starmer clearly has no desire to divide on so-called ‘culture war’ issues, which is welcome.”
Will the Conservatives be able to regroup under Labor government?
“The Conservative Party needs a period of reflection. It has had five prime ministers since 2010, reflecting the full spectrum of right-wing politics. Now the party must determine who its voters are, what serious answers it can offer to Britain’s challenges and decide whether it wants to be a source of division or a source of unity. Unlike others, I believe it is appropriate that Tory members take the time to discuss these issues internally and elect a leader with whom they can mount a challenge to Labor in the 2029 election. Parliamentary democracy requires a strong opposition to the government”.
Speaking of the conditions of democracy, does the lowest turnout since 2001 in the June 8 polls – estimated at 59% – worry you?
“Low voter turnout is problematic for our democracy in general. However, given Labour’s convincing lead for many months before the election, the low turnout was not entirely unexpected. Many voters no doubt assumed that the contests in their constituency had a predetermined outcome. The previous government introduced new requirements for voter ID and I’m sure that, unfortunately, this affected some people’s ability to vote. Labor has pledged to lower the voting age and change voter registration requirements, which will no doubt help turnout at the next election if they come into force.’
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