Labor Party Conference in Great Britain: When All Agreed

In Great Britain, Opposition Leader Starmer and Prime Minister Sunak are pursuing similar goals. Nevertheless, there are differences between Labor and the Tories.

Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria after his speech at the Labor Party conference on October 11 Photo: Matt Grasik/Empix/Imaco

The two main contenders for Great Britain’s leadership are riding the same wave: the last 13 years of Conservative rule have been a disaster, and the country needs change. As Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said at his own party conference a week ago, Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer said at his annual party conference this week. Who embodies change more credibly: the incumbent or the challenger?

The answer should not be difficult, so it is reasonable to conclude that Labor’s electoral victory in 2024 is certain. In this case, Keir Starmer would be the first Labor leader Tony Blair in 1996, then Leader of the Opposition, talks to his party and becomes Prime Minister shortly after. Even a gap of nearly 30 years makes it clear what a historic moment such a change of power would be for Great Britain.

With that in mind, it’s almost uncanny how similar Starmer and Chung are. Change, recovery, investment in infrastructure, better education and health, reform of public services – the difference in political consensus between the Tories and Labor leaders appears to outweigh any differences. Sunak’s most controversial announcement in his party conference speech was the gradual introduction of a complete ban on tobacco sales. Starmer now wants Labor to vote in parliament.

When the two major parties in a country agree so much about their country’s problems, it’s really a good sign of solution-oriented politics. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter who wins the next election. There are differences between the Tories and Labor that need to be on the table at some point.

Otherwise the unity of the top politicians risks being ignored as a show by a growing proportion of the population, and both camps risk losing credibility. Because if it’s so obvious to both of them what needs to be done urgently, why not just do it?