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Keir Starmer may find himself questioning the state of divine intervention lately, as the UK Prime Minister has faced significant challenges. With plummeting popularity ratings, citizens are growing increasingly frustrated, feeling that the country isn’t functioning as it should. The forthcoming local elections do not bode well for Labour, especially with Reform leading in numerous polls. The appointment of Mark Carney has proven to be a double-edged sword, serving as a reminder that some politicians gain traction by adopting a tough stance on controversial issues.
Compounding these challenges, Tony Blair’s recent report on climate policy has been criticized, even among his closest allies. Eighteen years after his departure from the role of Prime Minister, Blair continues to seek relevance, often positioning himself at odds with the current Labour leadership.
His ongoing influence and insistence on adherence to his legacy could be seen as a response to perceived slights against him, particularly from Labour MPs who were not yet in Parliament during his tenure. The expectation of unwavering loyalty seems to be Blair’s demand, a stark reminder of his electoral success in the past.
In this context, one might expect Kemi Badenoch to capitalize on Blair’s report, especially given the rare alignment of viewpoints between her and Labour’s historical icon. However, Badenoch opted not to pursue this opportunity. It was perhaps apparent to her that Blair was backtracking after inadvertently aligning himself with net-zero skeptics, attempting to clarify his stance on fossil fuels while still recognizing the importance of renewable energy initiatives.
Despite the gravity of climate issues, Badenoch’s focus shifted to a different subject during Prime Minister’s Questions. She chose to use her time to advocate for a national inquiry into child abuse networks, a topic of undeniable importance. Yet, her motivations for revisiting this issue—initially highlighted three months ago after it attracted attention on social media—remain unclear. Critics may wonder why she prioritized this over pressing climate dialogue, especially with impending local elections.
Unfortunately, Badenoch’s approach lacked new insights or fresh arguments. For Starmer, this presented an unexpected reprieve. With few believing there was a cover-up regarding abuse, especially considering his past role as director of public prosecutions, he was able to sidestep the accusations aimed at him.
Starmer utilized the opportunity to assert that there was already a national inquiry, led by Professor Alexis Jay, which had generated numerous recommendations during the previous Conservative administration—recommendations that had yet to see implementation. He posed the logical question of whether it was more prudent to act on existing findings rather than incurring the costs of recurring inquiries that would yield similar outcomes. Badenoch’s persistence in pressing for another inquiry, especially considering the Conservatives’ previous tenure, seemed inconsistent at best.
Yet, her repeated questioning did little to shake Starmer’s composure. The back-and-forth created an uncomfortable stalemate, leaving observers with a sense that the plight of abuse victims was being leveraged for political gain. The serious nature of their suffering should not be eclipsed by political maneuvering.
The remainder of the session was uneventful, with little in the way of dramatic exchanges. Tory MPs took the opportunity to discuss their VE Day celebrations, with Bernard Jenkin awkwardly promoting a choral evening that included works from German composers, while Mark Francois advocated for funding for a statue of Vera Lynn.
During this time, Starmer’s wife, Victoria, remained a stoic presence in the visitor’s gallery, offering no reaction to her husband’s attempts at humor. Adding a layer of curiosity to the proceedings, former pop star Chesney Hawkes was also present, with his identity leaving some attendees questioning how to verify his claims.
Source
www.theguardian.com