Kinnock: Voters not in love with Starmer

Labour could be heading for 1992 moment, insiders fear as party confidence wavers

BRITAIN is not yet in love with Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, Lord Kinnock has said, as party insiders fear that the general election could become a repeat of 1992.

The former Labour leader told BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster that it was “fair” to say that voters were not fully convinced by his party, and that it was not guaranteed to win a Commons majority. His point is echoed by Anneliese Dodds, the Labour Party chairman, in an interview with The Telegraph today. She says: “We can be very good at losing elections people thought we would win. Think of 1992.”

It comes in a week where Sir Keir has had to justify why he allowed Tory MP Natalie Elphicke to defect to Labour, with the decision criticised by those on the Left of the party and female Labour MPs.

Yesterday, Rishi Sunak hailed the end of a short recession by saying the economy now had “momentum”, with No10 believing the improvement helps the Conservatives’ re-election hopes.

Since an academic analysis of the local election results pointed to a hung parliament, there has been debate about whether Labour’s 20-point poll lead will translate into a majority.

Lord Kinnock was Labour leader in the run-up to the 1992 general election, when his party was expected to win, only for Sir John Major’s Tories to pull off a shock victory.

On The Week in Westminster, which is broadcast today, the Labour peer was asked if the truth of the current political dynamic was that the country was “deeply disillusioned with the Tories” but “not yet fully convinced or in love with the Labour pitch”.

Lord Kinnock responded: “I think that’s fair. And I think that it’s pretty natural after 14 years of continuous Conservative-led and Conservative governments. Expressing enthusiasm is different from expressing desperation. People will say ‘let’s get the bloody Tories out’, but they won’t say ‘Hurrah hurrah, marvellous, freedom, liberation is with us because of Keir Starmer.’ They are entirely different departments of human sentiment.”

He declined to say whether the runup to this election felt more like 1992 or 1997, when New Labour was swept into power under Sir Tony Blair, saying no two elections were the same.

But Lord Kinnock did strike a note of caution when asked whether he thought the result would be a Labour majority or a hung parliament, which is when no party has an overall majority.

He said: “I don’t think we’ll lose. In fact, I think I can say with some certainty we’re not going to lose. When it comes to trying to guess the possibility of majorities – large, medium, small – I simply won’t engage in that.”

Labour insiders often point to the surprise defeat in 1992 to back up their argument that they must not be complacent, even with their vast opinion poll lead over the Tories.

Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, who was an adviser in the Blair rebuild after 1992, has reminded colleagues that not a single vote has yet been cast for the election.

Yesterday, Sir Keir tried to counter Tory attacks on his pledge to scrap the Rwanda deportation flights by announcing plans to use terror laws to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel if he were to win office. Being seen as credible by the public on tackling immigration is one of the Labour Party’s biggest challenges.

No10 insiders hope that Rwanda flights taking off over summer and the improving economy will give them a chance of performing what Mr Sunak has said would be the “greatest comeback in political history”. The general election is expected in October or November.

Mr Sunak seized on the news that the recession was over yesterday, saying: “Confidence is returning to the economy and the country, and I hope that you’re starting to feel that, too.”

A LABOUR MP had the whip restored despite four former staff members submitting formal complaints about her behaviour, can reveal.

Kate Osamor, the MP for Edmonton, in north London, was readmitted by the parliamentary party on Wednesday following an internal investigation into remarks she made accusing Israel of genocide, for which she has apologised “unreservedly”.

Labour gave the impression the case was closed, with a spokesman confirming the whip had been restored following a “full” inquiry.

But it is understood the party received four separate complaints about Ms Osamor’s conduct prior to readmitting her, including allegations of bullying and intimidation, which are yet to be resolved.

It will raise questions as to why Labour chose to welcome the MP back into the fold despite being alerted to further concerns about her behaviour.

The party previously criticised the Conservatives for promoting Chris Pincher, the former Tory MP, to the whips’ office when Downing Street was aware of “allegations” as well as “reports and speculation” about his conduct.

Mr Pincher resigned from the House of Commons last year after being sacked from the party over a groping scandal.

The complaints against Ms Osamor, from four former members of her staff, included an allegation of bullying, as well as various claims of intimidation and generally unpleasant behaviour.

In more than one case, the MP was accused of angry outbursts towards team members, causing some to claim to feeling frightened.

It is understood all four complaints were submitted to Labour during Ms Osamor’s suspension and acknowledged by the party prior to her getting the whip back.

Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme was also alerted to the four cases.

Labour would not comment on Ms Osamor’s case specifically, but said that any complaints made to the party “are taken seriously and investigated in line with our procedures”.

Ms Osamor was approached for comment.