• AS the Conservative Party go full Ayn Rand and crash into everything they can see (and some things they just imagine) it’s not difficult to present Starmer’s Labour as fit for government.

They certainly couldn’t be worse than Truss. But it’s worth unpicking the reality of the policies they put forward at its conference.

On tax, Labour promised to return income tax to the levels of those of Boris Johnson. Remember him? It’s not exactly squeezing the rich until the pips squeak.

The utilities and natural monopolies will all remain private, and the NHS will encourage investment from the private sector (which means more privatisation).

Even the measures to reduce sugar and salt in our food are being withdraw by Dr Streeting, Labour’s new diabetes and obesity czar.

Foreign policy and defence will remain unchanged. Weapons will be sold to despots. Human rights will scarcely figure. The policy on homeownership is proudly and unashamedly Thatcherite.

The gambling industry was welcomed into conference along with other corporate sponsors who are hedging their bets now the Tories are imploding.

Meanwhile, suspensions and expulsions continue. The only Jewish member of the NEC has just been sanctioned. Local parties fall into disrepair and disrepute. Selection panels are rigged, candidates imposed, democracy is closed.

Decisions made at conference, meant to be the Labour Party’s sovereign body, are swatted aside by Sir Keir Starmer.

It was great to see the case for PR winning, but entirely predictable that the leader immediately said he’s going to ignore it. Just like the decision on Palestine.

The argument put forward by the Right is (now, suddenly) criticism of the leader helps the Tories. Weird, that it was never an issue when the leader was Corbyn.

Putting that hypocrisy to one side, the policies I’ve just itemised above are all essentially Tory. And the flagship “Green” initiative is the equivalent of a pencil drawing of a windmill.

The multinationals will remain in charge of energy. Profiteering, subsidised, unaccountable. The more radical green initiatives were actually blocked from the conference floor.

Being ready for government as far as the mainstream media are concerned means being prepared to be subservient. Starmer fits the bill, but don’t pretend it’s Labour.

STEVEN TAYLOR
Hampstead & Kilburn CLP
NW6