Yes, Britain's Prime Minister stands as the UK's most unpopular PM ever. This might empower him.
How brutal is the world of governance. Look around that government frontbench: all members is facing extremely difficult portfolios devoid of the tools to do what they know is needed.
What they were handed was even more ruinous than feared: they were bequeathed landmines, deceptive pitfalls and massive deficits. The EU departure is emerging as more economically devastating than predicted, now losing the exchequer £80bn a year.
The Difficulties Mounting
They are blighted by bad luck: the Trump presidency arrived during their watch. What greater disaster than a corrections official freeing a rejected refugee sexual predator? Small boat arrivals feel unstoppable.
A poorly timed deputy leadership election currently was destined to give the Prime Minister a setback. The eleven percent support at the Caerphilly Senedd by-election might not even be their nadir.
They anticipate criticism, but they have feelings. Frequently, the Labour MP dares say what everyone observes: that there is "deep disillusionment in this country at the moment" and "a growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round".
Public Opinion Confuses
Nevertheless, the current vitriolic state of public opinion is confusing and concerning. The Prime Minister is the most disliked prime minister in history. Really?
He embodies a honorable, committed person of good intentions, lacking excessive pride or self-importance. Measure this against the Conservative leader, Liz Truss, or the relaxed confidence of David Cameron, each achieving minimal to explain their overconfidence.
Leadership Challenges
However, voters claim, the current PM is poorer. As prime minister, he's short on leadership appeal, observers note: more seriously, he lacks political agility, ingenuity or understanding of changing opinions.
The government mishandled over cuts for retirees and individuals with special needs, unbalanced by spending increases in other areas. Unsure which demographic to target, the party has left good policies unpromoted, including employment protections to environmental funding, housing projects and a youth guarantee.
Governing Philosophy
Too many close advisers still think the Daily Mail-inflected right needs wooing, when nearly double the number of citizens have moved leftwards since the government formed. Election expert John Curtice warns them to cease pursuing populist constituency: they've departed.
Labour's leader is struggling; there's no denying it when surveys indicate no politician would recover from these unplumbed depths.
However, within the uncharted waters of remarkable instability, history may be no guide. The leader extracted Labour from the aftermath of the previous leadership state of despair that history said couldn't be fixed in four years.
Future Possibilities
Could another leader achieve superior results, or are we experiencing a near-ungovernable, insatiable public state of mind? All ruling parties may be dismissed equally quickly following election, however great its landslide victory, unless it arrives bearing quick fixes bearing untold bounty for underfunded government departments and financially strained households.
Unsurprisingly, anxiety among MPs will make discussion about replacing the leader rife if May's elections go as badly as predicted – or, certain observers propose, before that.
The Way Forward
This represents the government's dilemma: The party's sole opportunity resides in hopelessness. Assume they will be wiped out whatever, so use this massive majority for the full parliament to implement their genuine social democratic instinct: introduce significant fiscal adjustments, generating substantial revenue.
Expect to lose future elections, so implement all policies immediately. Forget opinion polls and voter research; allow citizens to observe genuine commitment. The only way to regain public trust is to do transparently what they think most just and equitable.
- This credibility has become crucial to rescue the country from calamity
- The bright light from the recent election showed the powerful "stop Reform" sentiment
- Over 60% of remarkable voter participation uniting to block populist advances
- That requires mass tactical voting for the most viable opposition candidate
The Chancellor rightly calls Reform "the primary risk" to our way of life. As the opposition virtually merge with Reform, a voting agreement of certain type looms.
The government's responsibility is to take all necessary measures to block this outcome. Prepare for coalition, stay suitable for allied groups when political labels matters less than the deep red line against a political danger unprecedented in modern history.
This represents a mission to drive out despair.