Compare and contrast. On Wednesday, Rishi Sunak had popped out to London’s East End to rush out his new year message. A day later, just a stone’s throw away in a university hub near the Olympic park, the Labour leader showed up to deliver his. Truly, as a nation, we are doubly blessed. Just what the country was waiting for. More words from politicians.
In substance there was little to choose between the two. Yes, the Labour leader’s speech was more coherent and better argued – not the highest of bars, as Rish!’s effort seemed to have been written in about half an hour while he was in the car – but if you were to close your eyes, at least two-thirds of the actual policy statements could have been interchangeable. Which said more about Starmer than Sunak. Keir is developing the softly, softly approach of a stealth bomber. Do and say nothing to frighten the horses. The battle is for the centre ground.
