Cooper Says Labour "Did Not Do Government Well" Under Starmer
The cabinet minister Yvette Cooper has said Labour “did not do government very well” during Sir Keir Starmer’s time as prime minister, a candid reflection on the party’s record from within the current cabinet. Sir Keir resigned in June after a party rebellion, paving the way for Andy Burnham to take over. The remark is likely to reopen debate about Labour’s troubled first year in power.
Ms Cooper’s comment is a rare public admission of failure from a serving minister, and it reflects an effort by the Burnham government to draw a line under a period many in the party regard as chaotic and directionless. Sir Keir’s administration was buffeted by policy U-turns, internal revolts and sliding poll ratings before his resignation, and his successor has sought to present a fresh start focused on the cost of living. Yet distancing the government from its own recent past carries risks, inviting the charge that the same party cannot escape responsibility for its record. Opponents will seize on the words as an admission of failure. Watch whether other ministers echo the reflection or seek to move the conversation on.