“A spectre is haunting Keir Starmer’s Labour,” writes Ben Ansell in the cover essay of Prospect’s new edition (out today). Not Marxism, of course—if his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney caught the prime minister reading Das Kapital he’d presumably have a conniption. Though the spectre Ansell identifies—“left populism”—is perhaps a distant cousin of Uncle Karl’s eponymous ideology.
After Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic party primary for New York City’s mayoral race, a range of figures within and beyond Labour have been inspired to adopt a more assertively progressive and anti-elite posture. From Zarah Sultana forming a new party with Jeremy Corbyn, to Zack Polanski’s emphatic victory in the Greens’ leadership race on an “eco-populism” platform, there are increasing distinctions being drawn between Starmer’s dour centrism and more ambitious alternatives.
Ansell explores whether Starmer could co-opt some of their messaging and policies to find new clarity of purpose amid his current malaise. There are policies—such as tax increases and universal welfare programmes—and rhetorical strategies he could steal to attack Nigel Farage.
Labour, at the behest of McSweeney, seems more worried about bleeding votes to its right, and is mirroring Reform UK’s anti-migration rhetoric to stem the flow. But as lawyer Conor Gearty explains on today’s episode of the Prospect Podcast (now back from summer break), if the party goes too far in this direction, Britain risks becoming a quasi-police state without the full right to protest.
The only party more miserable than Labour is the Tories, who are languishing at third place in the polls. Pollster Peter Kellner argues they had better secretly hope that Starmer’s migration policies work. This would neutralise the issue on which Reform has an advantage, and allow Kemi Badenoch to focus more on day-to-day issues.
To cap things off, we’ve got our latest “books in brief” section full of September reading recommendations. And there’s a whole lot more to peruse in the magazine—read the full issue online here. Finally, thanks to those still sending their acronyms inspired by Monday’s HENRYs (High Earners who are supposedly Not Rich Yet). Taking a more political angle, Joe identifies as an ACHILLES’ HEEL: A Conservative-Hater, Instinctively Leaning Left, Every Second Hoping the Electorate Elect Labour. Starmer could clearly use a few more ACHILLES’ HEELs in the electorate right about now. Email me your acronyms at ben.clark@prospectmagazine.co.uk.
Benjamin Clark
Head of digital audience
From Zohran Mamdani to Zarah Sultana, left populists are attracting votes and attention. Should Keir Starmer follow their lead?
Conor Gearty explains what’s at stake if Britain leaves the ECHR, and reacts to the Palestine Action ban
The Conservative party will end up fighting a losing battle with Reform unless Labour’s immigration policies are broadly seen to work
From a 19th-century sex scandal to a millennia-spanning narrative of environmental decline, here are this month’s shorter reviews from the magazine
