Sir Keir's speech was even more lacking in substance than usual (Image: Getty)
There’s a non-insignificant part of me that deeply resents writing this piece.
Not because I don’t love my job, but because even mentioning this morning’s ‘speech’ by Keir Starmer feels like I’m merely doing him a huge freebie by promoting what was a big PR exercise that allowed the PM to be photographed next to shiny jet planes and rub shoulders with people wearing medals.
We were dragged to Farnborough International Airshow this morning to hear a speech that even some non-media attendees seemed to struggle to understand why it was being delivered there.
The big announcement, as with so many of Labour’s policies, is that a new quango (that will take a year to set up) will work hand-in-hand with an existing quango to do something for which there is no timetable, no measure of success, no particular set policy direction and no new money.
That in a pithy summary, if I do say so myself, is largely what this Labour Government is shaping up to be. And with good reason. I don’t for a moment suggest that governing is easy, certainly not with the current health of the economy, but with little money in the coffers and numerous red lines on tax rises, prepare to witness a lot of ‘new bodies’, ‘commissions’ and ‘policy reviews’ announced over the next couple of years.
READ MORE: I watched Tory Right's post-election reunion - they're already planning a war
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Keir Starmer's presence at the Farnborough Air Show was never really explained (Image: Getty)
Labour’s rhetoric has been bold, emphatic and optimistic. But looking under the hood of the Starmermobile, instead of finding a shiny and powerful V8, more often than not we are confronted with a weedy G-Wiz electric motor.
Skills England, Sir Keir told us, will now work with the Migration Advisory Committee to “identify current and future skills gaps, put in place plans to address those gaps and reduce our long-term reliance on overseas workers”.
Skills England will also “bring together central and local government training providers and unions working together in broader partnership with business”.
If you’re a politician, public sector official, union baron or lefty lobbyist who loves talking but not much else, boy is this the Government you’ve waited a lifetime to see win office.
Don't miss...
Nigel Farage takes swipe at Keir Starmer over Joe Biden comments [LATEST]
Just one in 10 jobless people on benefits must show they are trying to find work [LATEST]
Keir Starmer facing threat of first Labour rebellion weeks after becoming PM [LATEST]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Sir Keir's announcement amounted to a hill of beans (Image: Getty)
The main problem here is that while leftists love saying ‘listen to experts’, I would be gobsmacked if either of these bodies for one moment suggest that what is holding back Britain’s productivity is over-regulation, sky-high production costs and record-high taxes.
What is more frustrating is that we are not being told how to judge success. Asked how long he expects the public to wait before seeing results, Sir Keir repeated his usual mantra: “There is no quick fix on this.”
If you were hoping for a cast iron guarantee that immigration will come down to anywhere near manageable levels by the next election, you would have been sorely disappointed.
Every time a new government comes in we get a tinkering with education policy, skills policy, welfare policy and planning policy. Each time little seems to change because no political leader has been bold enough to consider that businesses may be able to fix most of these challenges themselves without nannying and handholding by the state.
Trending
You may have guessed I’m no fan of meddling bodies, but had I been granted a question from the Prime Minister I was hoping to draw his attention to one he used to appear quite a fan of: the IFS.
During the election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ Paul Johnson warned Labour that it would not wash to enter No. 10 and then claim the economy was in a worse state than they believed as a precursor to breaking pledges on tax.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
I'm a pensions expert - huge problem with Winter Fuel Payment cut means Labour will U-turn
1546 Comments
Incredible map shows how many new homes Angela Rayner wants to build where you live
133 Comments
Labour swiftly stabbed in the back by union after pandering to junior doctors' pay demands
251 Comments
Labour accused of 'shredding' housing targets in London despite urgent need
251 Comments
Lord Frost says only one Tory candidate is speaking honestly and can defeat Labour
117 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
292 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
304 Comments
Lord Alf Dubs: Afghans who fled when Kabul fell can finally be together again
145 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Diane Abbott takes fresh swipe at Rachel Reeves
1361 Comments
Yvette Cooper makes migration blunder that will 'open doors at border'
1757 Comments
BBC to face major showdown with Culture Secretary today over Huw Edwards child abuse shame
1 Comments
Keir Starmer to host police chief meeting at No10 with key demand after far-right riots
Comments
Brexiteer fury as EU issues demands to Keir Starmer in return for new closer relationship
733 Comments
Rachel Reeves rumbled as Jeremy Hunt exposes Labour's lies after UK interest rate cut
149 Comments
Southport stabbings: Keir Starmer heckled as furious local asks 'how many more children?'
1649 Comments
I know only one candidate can win the Red Wall back for the Tories - it's Robert Jenrick
63 Comments
Kemi Badenoch blasts leftie smears as she's accused of 'bullying' civil servants
206 Comments
Rachel Reeves admits taxes will RISE as Tory fury mounts over failure to defy unions
268 Comments
Rioting thugs have no respect for the grieving Southport families, Yvette Cooper blasts
800 Comments
Nigel Farage accused of being ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' by murdered MP's furious husband
Comments
I'm a pensions expert - huge problem with Winter Fuel Payment cut means Labour will U-turn
1546 Comments
Incredible map shows how many new homes Angela Rayner wants to build where you live
133 Comments
Labour swiftly stabbed in the back by union after pandering to junior doctors' pay demands
251 Comments
Labour accused of 'shredding' housing targets in London despite urgent need
251 Comments
Lord Frost says only one Tory candidate is speaking honestly and can defeat Labour
117 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
292 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
304 Comments
Lord Alf Dubs: Afghans who fled when Kabul fell can finally be together again
145 Comments
Labour civil war erupts as Diane Abbott takes fresh swipe at Rachel Reeves
1361 Comments
Yvette Cooper makes migration blunder that will 'open doors at border'
1757 Comments
BBC to face major showdown with Culture Secretary today over Huw Edwards child abuse shame
1 Comments
Keir Starmer to host police chief meeting at No10 with key demand after far-right riots
Comments
Brexiteer fury as EU issues demands to Keir Starmer in return for new closer relationship
733 Comments
Rachel Reeves rumbled as Jeremy Hunt exposes Labour's lies after UK interest rate cut
149 Comments
Southport stabbings: Keir Starmer heckled as furious local asks 'how many more children?'
1649 Comments
I know only one candidate can win the Red Wall back for the Tories - it's Robert Jenrick
63 Comments
Kemi Badenoch blasts leftie smears as she's accused of 'bullying' civil servants
206 Comments
Rachel Reeves admits taxes will RISE as Tory fury mounts over failure to defy unions
268 Comments
Rioting thugs have no respect for the grieving Southport families, Yvette Cooper blasts
800 Comments
Nigel Farage accused of being ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' by murdered MP's furious husband
Comments
I'm a pensions expert - huge problem with Winter Fuel Payment cut means Labour will U-turn
1546 Comments
Incredible map shows how many new homes Angela Rayner wants to build where you live
133 Comments
Labour swiftly stabbed in the back by union after pandering to junior doctors' pay demands
251 Comments
Labour accused of 'shredding' housing targets in London despite urgent need
251 Comments
Lord Frost says only one Tory candidate is speaking honestly and can defeat Labour
117 Comments
Nigel Farage's five-word response as he's called ‘Tommy Robinson in a suit' over Southport
292 Comments
UK firms addicted to cheap foreign labour - and British workers are sidelined
304 Comments
Mr Johnson pointed out that the books were already open and freely available for anyone to read prior to entering government.
Labour now seems surprisingly keen to ignore this and press ahead with excuse-making, all while handing more powers to the IFS’s cousin, the OBR.
For Sir Keir, it seems, he’s a big fan of expert talking shops, right up until they tell him something he doesn’t already agree with.