5 May 2020

Keir Starmer moves to tighten control of Labour policy development

Shadow ministers have been told that new fiscal commitments require central approval – and warned off big spending.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer waits for the session to begin at the start of the first "Call Keir" online meeting, from a room next to his office at Portcullis House, next to the Houses of Parliament on April 30, 2020 in London, England. Mr. Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour party, announced plans to hold virtual meetings with callers from around the United Kingdom to hear about the public impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

What is Labour’s policy platform under Keir Starmer? Recent interviews with shadow cabinet ministers have been notable in failing to answer that question, to the chagrin of some on the left. Now a letter from the new leadership to its frontbenchers has made clear that the process of doing so will be tightly controlled and heavily circumscribed.

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, wrote to colleagues last night to impart two messages. The first is that they are not to propose any new policy that has implications for the tax and spending commitments of a future Labour government without first clearing it with her and Starmer’s office. If they do, there will be no support for the policy from the party machine.