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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jessica Elgot, Deputy political editor

Sticking to the script isn’t helping Keir Starmer this time

Keir Starmer in front of a red backdrop
Keir Starmer was highly critical of scandals from within Boris Johnson’s government. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja/Reuters

Keir Starmer had a very specific comms strategy during the election campaign: fight on your own turf and don’t get dragged into someone else’s agenda. Don’t get distracted by the fight the Conservatives want to have on culture or tax – stick to the script and rise above it.

The problem with this tune is that it is one – to coin a football phrase – that you can sing when you’re winning. And even in the election campaign there were times when this came a cropper.

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