What is Keir Starmer about? At present, a 22-point poll lead. But is there more?
An exclusive Ipsos survey for today’s Evening Standard reveals that half of Britons say they do not know what the Labour leader stands for — this, in fact, represents a six-point jump since the start of the year. As for the rest of his shadow cabinet, voters can barely name them.
Yet the Conservatives would be unwise to take much succour from these latest figures. First, because it is not unusual for shadow ministers to enjoy a low profile. Indeed, voters were hard-pressed to name many from David Cameron’s opposition frontbench that went on to serve in government. And second, because Labour leads on most issues, including voters’ top five.
Some at the top of the Tory party risk looking like they are in denial at the scale of the challenge. There is now a sense of inevitability surrounding Starmer, and a confidence that he is unlikely to fumble at the goal line.
Therefore, rather than relying on a Labour collapse, Rishi Sunak must develop a narrative and a positive reason to vote Conservative — no small task after 13 years in office and soaring inflation.
Grim reading for Met
The revelations keep on coming. Matthew White, the sixth suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence, had arranged to meet a police officer to discuss the racist killing but the officer did not turn up, a relative has claimed. These are the grim details behind the botched initial investigation, which was hampered by racism and claims of corruption.
Only this year the Metropolitan Police was branded institutionally racist by the review from Baroness Casey. London needs and deserves a police force it can trust, and that is why the Evening Standard will continue to probe and report on this crucial issue.
Tories’ mayoral woes
If the Prime Minister is facing political headwinds, conditions appear even worse for the London Tories. Daniel Korski, a potential Conservative candidate for mayor, has been accused by the author and TV producer Daisy Goodwin of groping her while he worked as an adviser in Number 10. Korski denies the allegations.
The shortlist of candidates was not exactly a blockbuster one to begin with. The choice now facing the more than 20,000 London Tories, and ultimately millions of voters, is at risk of narrowing further still.
