It’s time for Labour to show voters that it, not the Tories, can mend the economy

‘During the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, Keir Starmer and the shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves, must keep a laser-like focus on the issue. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Politics is fundamentally about choices. Cuts v investment, getting Brexit done v coalition of chaos, New Labour v same old Tories. An effective political strategy is, in essence, about defining those choices on your own terms. Next week, the choice in British politics will change. We will have a new prime minister and my old boss will have a new opponent whom he will need to define quickly.

Liz Truss, who is widely expected to win the leadership contest, should not be underestimated. She has, leaving aside the obvious gaffes, exceeded expectations and anyone who becomes prime minister must be treated as an effective political operator.