As Bernie Sanders has discovered in the US Democratic primaries, and Rebecca Long-Bailey is discovering in British Labour’s equivalent, fine words butter no parsnips. The latest poll of Labour members suggests that Sir Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions who handled the Brexit brief with considerable dexterity, will win the leadership comfortably on the first count. Fifty-eight per cent said they believed Starmer could lead Labour to election victory next time round, while only a quarter thought either of the other two could do so. Starmer, who has pitched himself as the “unity” candidate, has been careful to endorse the party’s left-wing policies. Voters who gave Labour an historic drubbing in the general election remain sceptical of the credibility of a party deeply divided between rank and file and parliament.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2020 19:07 UTC