Scottish Parliament election: Why Labour's 'idiotic' rebels are a gift to the SNP and Reform
By making Labour appear weak and divided, the rebel MPs are undermining their own cause
Given Scottish Labour’s slump to third in the polls and Keir Starmer’s low approval ratings, one might think their own MPs would understand the need to remain united – particularly with the Scottish Parliament election just four months away.
But no, instead Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar found himself forced to condemn the “idiotic” actions of MPs who have been privately briefing about a plot to oust Starmer and replace him with Health Secretary Wes Streeting before May.
It’s idiotic for several reasons. First, it’s extremely unlikely to happen. Starmer may well be unseated after the election, and those for the Welsh Senedd and English councils, if the results for Labour are as bad as current polls suggest, but the majority of the party’s MPs aren’t going to move until that actually happens.
READ MORE: Revealed: How Scottish Labour hopes it can turn tables on SNP and snatch power in Holyrood election
An unwelcome shift of focus
Second, if the plot actually succeeded, Starmer’s replacement would likely face an immediate crisis over the bad May election results. Far better for the incumbent to take the blame and start afresh under a new leader.
Third, their disloyalty only serves to highlight Starmer’s failings and unpopularity at a time when Sarwar is trying to make the election about the SNP’s dismal track record as the party of government and Scottish Labour’s plans to change that.
Fourth, by making Labour appear weak and divided, the MPs are actively undermining their own cause. A party at war with itself hardly looks ready for power and the row will be music to the ears of their election rivals.
Starmer has made a series of catastrophic decisions, but at least he appears to be focussed on trying to tackle the real issues affecting the UK – how to grow the economy, fix the NHS and so on. The SNP could certainly learn from some of Labour’s health service reforms south of the Border.
The Labour rebels have, however, achieved something. Their actions are simply a gift for SNP and Reform.
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