London Playbook: I’m loving Starmer instead —
Kwarteng plays defense — Battered markets roundup
BY EMILIO
CASALICCHIO
SEPTEMBER
28, 2022 8:01 AM
POLITICO
London Playbook
By EMILIO
CASALICCHIO
Good
Wednesday morning. This is Emilio Casalicchio in the hot seat for the rest of
this week.
I’M LOVING
STARMER INSTEAD: The legendary Mirror bash at Labour conference in Liverpool
did not disappoint last night, with half the shadow cabinet, senior LOTO staff
and political advisers belting out 80s and 90s karaoke hits on a packed
dancefloor. The live band opened the evening with a rendition of Highway to
Hell, introduced as “a comment on the Tory party,” while attendees let their
hair down after a tiring (if not a little dull) political jamboree.
Singing
when winning: Labour leader Keir Starmer addressed the crowd and posed for
selfies … his deputy Angela Rayner belted out “Don’t Stop Believin'” with
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth … Shadow Health Secretary
Wes Streeting crooned “I’m loving Starmer instead” to the tune of Robbie
Williams’ “Angels” … and Shadow Leveling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy was part of a
raucous choir doing serious justice to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Natch:
Things got wild loooong after midnight when (you guessed it) “Things Can Only
Get Better” started pounding from the stereo.
**A message
from NatWest Group: As part of our strategy to champion the potential of young
people, we have co-created Natwest Thrive with Marcus Rashford - an immersive
money mindset programme to help young
people understand their relationship to money, break through unconscious blocks
and develop the self-belief and motivation to go after their dreams.**
Spotted in
the heaving crowd: LOTO aides Morgan McSweeney, Deborah Mattinson, Matthew
Doyle and Matt Pound … Frontbenchers Emily Thornberry, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Pat
McFadden and Luke Pollard … Labour spinners and advisers Sophie Nazemi, Nick
Parrott, Olly Longworth, Nicola Bartlett, Emma Barnes, Rich Simcox, Jonty
Leibowitz, Pearl Sangha, Vidhya Alakeson, Henna Shah, John Lehal and Ryan
Denston … ex-Labour aides Emma McNicholas, Reg Pula, Colette Bird, Charlie
Rainsford and Holly Higgins.
Also
spotted in the chaos: Half the parliamentary lobby, including Mirror team Kevin
Maguire, John Stevens, Ben Glaze, Dan Bloom, Lizzy Buchan, Ash Cowburn, Aletha
Adu and the Mirror chicken … hacks Oli Wright, Chris Smyth, Pippa Crerar, Jess
Elgot, Rowena Mason, Aubrey Allegretti, Cathy Newman, Claire Ellicott, Natasha
Clark, Jim Pickard, Seb Payne, Jen Williams, Tony Diver, Mason Boycott-Owen,
Antonello Guerrera, Adam Bienkov, Paul Waugh, Hugo Gye, Kevin Schofield … and
many, many more.
And of
course … the Betting and Gaming Council’s Michael Dugher, Gary Follis and
Michael Denoual, as the trade group sponsored the event.
Attracting
shade … were numerous Holly and Phil wannabes who managed to skip the long
queue to get in, including hacks and senior MPs. Playbook isn’t naming names,
but received more than one complaint and is not amused.
DRIVING THE DAY
INFLICTING
MORE STARM: Emboldened Labour leader Keir Starmer is touring broadcast studios
right now and attacking the Conservatives over their latest fiscal
embarrassment: a ticking off from the IMF. Following his well-received annual
conference speech in Liverpool, during which he laid into Liz Truss and Kwasi
Kwarteng over the rough and tumble sterling has suffered since their not-Budget
last week, Starmer will warn that British families are at risk and urge the PM
to reverse her plans. He’ll also seek to land Labour messages on public
services, renewable fuel investment and housebuilding that the opposition has
been looking to sell this week, and contrast them with Conservative tax cuts
for the highest earners in the U.K.
Just as the
Mirror knees-up was kicking off … the IMF issued a rare and damning statement
chastising the government for its “large and untargeted fiscal packages” and
warning that the moves could fuel the cost-of-living crisis and lead to an even
more unequal Britain. The U.N. bank urged Truss to rethink in particular her
cut to the top rate of income tax, which is set to benefit some of the
wealthiest people in Britain. The government insisted its plan would boost
growth and raise living standards.
Labour
launches in: In a statement late last night, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves
said the IMF intervention “shows the seriousness of the situation” and insisted
the government must set out “how it will fix the problems it created through
its reckless decisions to waste money in an untargeted cut in the top rate of
tax.” Expect Starmer to follow the line in his interviews this morning.
Follow the
leader: Starmer is appearing on LBC (7.05 a.m.) … GMB (7.20 a.m.) … Times Radio
(7.35 a.m.) … BBC 5Live (7.50 a.m.) … BBC Radio 4 (8.10 a.m.) … and BBC
Breakfast (8.30 a.m.).
MAKE THE
MOST OF IT: It’s something of a victory lap for the Labour boss at the end of a
conference that suffered just one MP suspension for idiotic comments; just one
regional chief attempting to steal the show to boost their leadership
ambitions; and just one row that never quite became a row about proportional
representation. Aside from all that, Labour managed to put on a proper suit, do
up its tie and (literally) sing the national anthem. It even announced a few
interesting policies (including a sweet, sweet trade scoop for POLITICO.)
Indeed:
Even the high-wire moment of the Starmer speech seems to have landed well. The
leader was on a high at the Mirror event last night, telling attendees Labour
was feeling confident. Aides said the LOTO team achieved all its objectives for
the high-profile moment, and that after his address Starmer celebrated with
fizz at a thank-you event for staff before touring other receptions.
Paper
review of conference: Starting with the friendlies, the overnight Guardian
leader column reckons Starmer “is starting to stand for something,” and
although some would like him to be bolder “has a better grip on the present
than those he seeks to replace.” The Mirror leader declared: “No longer in the
doldrums, Labour believes it can win. The confidence is infectious.”
Somewhere
in the middle-ish: The Times thunders (as is its wont) that Starmer “has by no
means enthused voters, in the way that Sir Tony Blair did after a long period
of Tory government, but he has made Labour a serious contender once more.” The
i newspaper points out that Labour is rising in the polls due to frustrations
at the government rather than love for Starmer.
And the
critics: The Mail leader hones in on now-suspended MP Rupa Huq for her comments
about Kwasi Kwarteng being “superficially” black, arguing “the mask has slipped
again. Despite Sir Kier’s protestations, Labour has proved beyond doubt it
truly is the nasty party.” The Mail coverage of Starmer’s speech is a double
page spread focused on whether Labour might be “plotting a Lib Dem pact” at the
next election.
Still not
friends: The Telegraph argues Labour “remains a party that is suspicious of
wealth creation, envious of the rich and willing still to believe that
industries work better in the hands of the state,” while the Sun insists: “Labour
seem to believe simply not being Tories will hand them power. Starmer will need
more than that.”
But making
new friends: Right-wing GB News presenter Tom Harwood asked Starmer for a
selfie at the Mirror party and was granted his wish.
Speech
takes from the funnies: Among the sketch writers, Quentin Letts in the Times
argues Starmer’s voice was “less honky, more like Rick Stein” but his “limb
movements are, however, unconvincing.” In the Mail, Henry Deedes said he
couldn’t help feeling he was “listening to a middle-ranking air-conditioning
salesman who is particularly pleased by his third quarter results.” The best
gag award goes to Rob Hutton in the Critic, about what he described as the
“energized and passionate” speaker. Worth a look.
And on the ground:
Most of the MPs Playbook spoke to were enthused about the address. “It was the
most relaxed speech I’ve ever seen him do,” said one shadow Cabinet member. A
senior MP said the 50-minute address felt much shorter — which Playbook assumes
is a good sign after the feature-length bore-a-thon in 2021. Another prominent
MP praised the speech and said Starmer “did what he needed to do” — although
the grueling conference schedule still left some MPs in the front row
struggling not to yawn on camera.
From the
grandees: New Labour architect Peter Mandelson told Playbook that Starmer “will
leave Liverpool with his electoral appeal and authority hugely enhanced.” One
long serving Labour MP and former shadow Cabinet member who has been critical
of Starmer in the past texted to note that the speech set out a clear vision
without promising “the land of milk and honey” and marked “a massive turning
point for Labour and for British politics.”
Less
impressed: “He’s a terrible public speaker,” said one Labour aide. “He spoke
for almost an hour but didn’t say anything.” One Labour MP on the left said the
speech was good, with “fine” policies and “nice flourishes,” but accused
Starmer of allowing “an anti-left bullying culture to develop in his staff and
in the party” — pointing to efforts to deselect left-wing MPs and the expulsion
of members on “trumped-up charges.”
Notable
that … the Socialist Campaign Group of hard left MPs has avoided making
criticism of Starmer or his speech, despite holding a big event last night that
would have afforded it ample opportunity. Have a look through its Twitter feed
to see some of what was said. Members of the group did not respond to calls or
texts for comment on the speech last night, while left-wing campaigner Owen
Jones was sanguine about the address (and got stick for it from his comrades on
Twitter.)
Back in the
box: It does feel as though the heckles from left wingers during the Starmer
speech in 2021 were the last gasps of the hard-fought Jeremy Corbyn era. “The
Corbynites have thrown in the towel,” one senior Labour figure told Playbook.
“They’re not even in the corner of the room. They’re in a different room
altogether.” A shadow Cabinet member added that “the left aren’t feeling at
home here.”
Indeed:
Playbook knows left wingers who became new members and went as far as working
for Momentum and taking paid jobs in Labour during the Corbyn era, but who have
now lost all interest and let their memberships lapse.
NOW READ
THIS: The crack POLITICO team of Esther Webber, Eleni Courea and Ailbhe Rea —
with some help from your Playbook author — has filed its take on whether “no
drama Starmer” might be quietly marching the Labour Party back to power. The
team notes that although there was none of the internecine strife Labour watchers
have grown accustomed to at conference, there was also precious little buzz
about the place either. But despite the muted backdrop, party members and
strategists are starting to believe victory could be in sight. “We can smell
power,” said one shadow Cabinet member. “There is no more sobering reason to
unite.”
TODAY IN LIVERPOOL
CONFERENCE
ISN’T OVER: Despite the Keir speech being behind us there are still main-stage
events happening at the Liverpool arena this morning. Labour moved the leader’s
speech back to the pre-Miliband slot of Tuesday instead of Wednesday so that
Starmer could make the most of hobnobbing with business-types last night
without having to rush off for speech prep.
And there
were a good few to hobnob: Numerous people at conference said it was the
biggest business contingent seen at the event for more than a decade — the
crowning moment being a packed Bloomberg reception at which top-notch cocktails
were handed out. One Labour aide said it was weird to turn around from a bar
and see a “sea of suits.” The Guardian’s Jess Elgot has a full piece on the biz
world waking up to the fact that networking with senior Labour people might now
be a good idea.
Stage
times: This morning it’s the turn of future Labour leadership candidates (we
all assume) Wes Streeting (9.55 a.m.) … Rosena Allin-Khan (10 a.m.) and Bridget
Phillipson (11.20 a.m.)
Streets
ahead: Shadow Health Sec Streeting will demand that GPs in England provide
face-to-face appointments for all patients who want them. He will also insist
appointments must be book-able on the NHS app, arguing “patients must come
first.” Ben Glaze got the exclusive in the Mirror.
Bridget the
gap: Shadow Education Sec Phillipson meanwhile will pledge to introduce funded
breakfast clubs for each primary school in England, as a first step toward
setting out a bigger package of childcare reforms.
And there’s
more: At 11.30 a.m. Belarusian opposition speaker Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will
address the conference hall as a special guest speaker. She will (of course)
stick two verbal fingers up at Vladimir Putin and his close bud, the Belarusian
leader Alexander Lukashenko.
But before
the main stage opens: Labour bigwigs will be binning the messages pro-EU
campaigners left hanging from their bedroom doors last night. The European
Movement UK group snuck into the Pullman (where the important people sleep) and
the Jury’s Inn and stuck ‘do not disturb’ hangers on all the doors with the
message: “Please don’t close the door on Europe.” Pics here.
THE KAMI-KWASI BUDGET
IT’S FINE,
HONEST: Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng will seek to reassure U.S. banking bosses
today that the government has not lost control of the U.K. economy, as the Conservative
war over its financial chaos continues to rage. Kwarteng will hold an in-person
meeting in the Treasury with firms including Bank of America, JP Morgan,
Standard Chartered, Citi, UBS, Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg. The idea is to
gather ideas for his “Big Bang 2.0” package due to be announced next month —
but aides accept he will be asked to comment on the ongoing turmoil.
Suggested
question: Has the first bang not been big enough?
Here’s a
preview: The finance bosses will no doubt get the same patter Kwarteng offered
to Conservative MPs on a “cool heads” call yesterday afternoon. Playbook’s
Eleni Courea hears the chancellor reassured the 84 people on the call that
fiscal-term responsibility would be delivered in the medium term because the government
is “all Conservatives.” He urged MPs to “stick with this,” promising: “We can
see this through.” Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson has heard similar.
No
surprise: One MP on the call said Kwarteng faced a “flood of questions” about
mortgage interest rates, after lenders started tripping the F out and canceling
deals.
Of course:
Both Downing Street and HMT denied that Truss and Kwarteng argued over the
government response to the financial madness, as Sam Coates said they would.
100 percent
not panicking: Telegraph Pol Ed Ben Riley-Smith has been briefed that six big
announcements on supply side reforms are being worked up for the next six
weeks. The drive is said to have been dubbed “Operation Rolling Thunder” after
America’s blitz bombardment tactics in Vietnam. The Tele notes hope that a
Truss pledge to increase mortgage eligibility could help with the lending
turmoil. Playbook wonders what the IMF will think of that.
Fingers in
ears I: Former Brexit negotiator David Frost last night urged Truss and Kwarteng
to ignore all talk of a crisis and blasted the IMF over its intervention.
Former Cabinet minister Julian Smith responded: “Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,” which
Playbook assumes translates as “invaluable guidance, oh wise one.”
Fingers in
ears II: This little-noticed Telegraph piece from Patrick Minford (one of the
free marketeer brains Truss is a big fan of) ends with the line: “We should let
markets work and pay no attention to idiots who cry ‘crisis.’”
Fingers in
ears III: The Daily Mail tucked the IMF story into a corner on page 15, and led
it with criticism of the IMF from Conservatives.
Fingers in
ears IV? It’s hard to know how the government will respond at the moment. In
its own response to the IMF, a Treasury spokesperson said ministers are focused
on boosting growth to raise living standards, and that the planned November 23
statement from Kwarteng will set out further details on fiscal rules, including
ensuring that debt falls as a share of GDP in the medium term. The markets are
gagging for that detail. Don’t expect Truss or Kwarteng to appear in public
today.
Markets-are-shagged
round-up: HMT officials warned Truss and Kwarteng that their economic plans
could lead to turmoil, the i newspaper team reports … Required spending cuts in
the wake of the not-Budget could finish the NHS, a former Bank of England boss
has warned … TalkTV’s Tom Newton Dunn is leading the Conservative rulebook
debate about whether Liz Truss could be deposed in the next 12 months … and the
FT is now writing articles like: “Is Britain now in a full-blown economic
crisis?” because nothing is real until it’s both full and blown.
Speaking of
Truss being deposed … Conservative MP and letter-of-no-confidence-enthusiast
Roger Gale is on GMB at 8.10 a.m. this morning. Could he announce that a
letter has been submitted?
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário