Keir Starmer delivered his much-anticipated reset speech at the Coin Street neighbourhood centre in Waterloo, London, on 11 May. The address was intended to revive his leadership and counter the growing threat from Reform UK. However, according to political commentator Polly Toynbee, the speech was merely 'OK-ish' and failed to address the deep crisis facing the Labour Party.
The Inadequacy of the Reset
Toynbee argues that the lexicon of calamity, cataclysm, and catastrophe has been exhausted in describing Labour's plight. Starmer's reset needed to be monumental, but instead it offered only incremental changes. While he correctly positioned Britain at the heart of Europe and emphasised shared interests with allies on growth, defence, and energy, his message lacked the boldness required to inspire confidence. Toynbee notes that Starmer's tiptoeing towards the single market and customs union, with a manifesto three years away, fails to address the electorate's desire for decisive action on Europe.
The Threat of Reform UK
The recent election results have sounded an alarm not just for Labour but for the entire country. The hard right won, with Reform UK and the Conservatives scoring 47% of the vote, while progressive parties—Greens, Labour, and Liberal Democrats—managed only 43%. Toynbee warns that Nigel Farage, whom Starmer rightly labelled a 'grifter' and 'chancer', could become prime minister under such circumstances. She fears that the Tories, in their modern Brexit incarnation, would rather ally with these Trumpites than resist them.
A Reform government would be a terrifying prospect, with Farage's populism feeding on the discontents of the left-behind while benefiting only the party and its billionaire benefactors. Toynbee highlights the UK's non-constitution, which grants vast Henry VIII powers, giving Farage fewer checks and balances than even Donald Trump. Farage's justification of a £5 million personal gift and his involvement in dodgy schemes, such as investing £215,000 in Kwasi Kwarteng's crypto enterprise, suggest a propensity for kleptocracy.
The Battle Against Trumpism
Toynbee asserts that the battle against Trumpism is the greatest political threat of her lifetime. Across Europe, populists scapegoat immigrants to cover their cuts, and Reform UK is no exception. Hope Not Hate has uncovered repellent racism among Reform candidates, with deputy leader Richard Tice refusing to condemn a councillor joking about melting Nigerians into potholes. Such behaviour would have been unthinkable for any elected party just a few years ago.
Labour must keep its focus on this threat. Starmer must take his own words to heart and ensure he does not assist Reform by staying on too long or shunning alliances with other parties. Conservatives of a better era could be allies, but the party's current iteration risks being consumed in a pact with Farage. Toynbee criticises Starmer for treating Reform and the Greens as equivalent threats, calling this frivolous in the face of a menace like Farage.
The Path Forward
Suggesting Labour faces anything less than extinction risks sounding like the Black Knight's limbless torso from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. However, Labour may not yet be a dead parrot if it makes the right choices. Toynbee notes that hatred of Starmer runs deep, with a -69% disapproval rating, but loathing of Farage is also powerful at -65%. Reform has slipped 4% in the polls from last year's high, suggesting it is beatable—but probably not by Starmer.
Andy Burnham is the only contender with positive polling. Toynbee accuses Starmer of dishonesty in claiming the NEC will decide whether to bar Burnham again, as Starmer can influence the majority of NEC votes. Lavishing praise on Burnham's Manchester work while potentially blocking his candidacy is bogus politics. To block the likeliest brake on Farage is not taking the threat seriously.
The national mood may be general disgust with politicians, but someone must win the next election. In three years, Labour's candidate could be the least improbable, depending on progressives uniting in a mission to send Farage's Trumpist challenge back to the sinkhole it came from.
