Romping Reform smashes two-party politics to pieces

Labour can take no comfort from the Conservatives' woes after Reform UK's spectacular advance.

- ANDREW GRICE

Reform's win in the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election, Labour's 49th safest seat, and its local election gains, show that Keir Starmer's strategy of portraying his government as "disruptors" isn't working.

The logic behind it seemed sound: Starmer told his cabinet in February the government would be “disrupted” by Nigel Farage’s party unless Labour showed voters it is not defending the status quo. It’s a view held by Morgan McSweeney, his influential chief of staff, and by Tony Blair.

But many Labour figures, including some ministers, always doubted this approach. They will feel vindicated by Farage’s advance in Thursday’s local authority and mayoral elections, as well as in Runcorn, and press for a rethink. These critics believe any government is going to be seen as the establishment by an increasingly impatient and angry electorate. So, talking about “rewiring the state” and reforming the civil service or even abolishing NHS England isn’t going to cut it.

Standards – not structures – matter (as Blair himself argued on education policy). Labour must show tangible improvements to public services and living standards – and soon. Two measures that will hit some people in the pocket (means-testing the winter fuel allowance and cutting disability benefits) loomed large on the doorsteps ahead of these elections.