Coco Khan

So for our podcast listeners, it's probably worth setting the scene a bit here. It's almost like the clip has been desaturated. I mean, it's very funeral-esque. He is stood behind a lectern with a label reading, fixing the foundations in white text. The background is completely black. He's wearing a grey tie and a charcoal suit. And even his hair is very, very grey.

So for our podcast listeners, it's probably worth setting the scene a bit here. It's almost like the clip has been desaturated. I mean, it's very funeral-esque. He is stood behind a lectern with a label reading, fixing the foundations in white text. The background is completely black. He's wearing a grey tie and a charcoal suit. And even his hair is very, very grey.

So we know that there's going to be an autumn statement coming up, which is going to be incredibly bleak. So I think Starmer is trying to seed the ground for people to be aware that there are probably going to be tax rises and there's probably going to be public spending cuts.

So we know that there's going to be an autumn statement coming up, which is going to be incredibly bleak. So I think Starmer is trying to seed the ground for people to be aware that there are probably going to be tax rises and there's probably going to be public spending cuts.

I think he's also, he wants to let the public know that he's taking very, very seriously the doom and gloom picture that has been left by 14 years of conservative austerity, 14 years of conservative rule. He's also asking, in that clip, people to stick with him for a decade. He says it's going to take 10 years for a Labour government to turn around the country's fortunes.

I think he's also, he wants to let the public know that he's taking very, very seriously the doom and gloom picture that has been left by 14 years of conservative austerity, 14 years of conservative rule. He's also asking, in that clip, people to stick with him for a decade. He says it's going to take 10 years for a Labour government to turn around the country's fortunes.

Things won't get better over the night. You know, stick with me. The previous government left things really, really badly. And I think, you know, people have clearly bought the narrative. Quite rightly, I would say, that the Conservatives have done a lot of damage to this country. But... Is doom and gloom the best way to sell that? Because people voted for change. That was Labour's motto.

Things won't get better over the night. You know, stick with me. The previous government left things really, really badly. And I think, you know, people have clearly bought the narrative. Quite rightly, I would say, that the Conservatives have done a lot of damage to this country. But... Is doom and gloom the best way to sell that? Because people voted for change. That was Labour's motto.

That was their tagline. If you're saying it's going to be 10 years till you feel better... I think people are going to feel pretty fed up with that. And I mean, realistically, he actually has five years until he faces voters again. And at some point in those five years, he's going to have to pinpoint things that Labour have been able to achieve.

That was their tagline. If you're saying it's going to be 10 years till you feel better... I think people are going to feel pretty fed up with that. And I mean, realistically, he actually has five years until he faces voters again. And at some point in those five years, he's going to have to pinpoint things that Labour have been able to achieve.

But, you know, there is a different story that the Labour government could tell, which is actually there's a lot of things to be hopeful about. There's a lot of things to look forward to. We are, you know, pushing through planning reforms. We're doing X, we're doing Y, we're nationalising the railways. We're going to make those with the broader shoulders finally pay their fair share.

But, you know, there is a different story that the Labour government could tell, which is actually there's a lot of things to be hopeful about. There's a lot of things to look forward to. We are, you know, pushing through planning reforms. We're doing X, we're doing Y, we're nationalising the railways. We're going to make those with the broader shoulders finally pay their fair share.

He could say it like that rather than, oh, it's just going to be awful. All this is going to do, I think, is make the media go crazy. For the next couple of months until we get the budget. And there's going to be lots of briefing and preview. And then all these ministers are going to be quizzed on, are you going to raise council tax? Are you going to raise capital gains tax?

He could say it like that rather than, oh, it's just going to be awful. All this is going to do, I think, is make the media go crazy. For the next couple of months until we get the budget. And there's going to be lots of briefing and preview. And then all these ministers are going to be quizzed on, are you going to raise council tax? Are you going to raise capital gains tax?

Are you going to tax pensions? All these difficult questions that they might not actually even know the answer to yet. So I don't know if it was the most politically savvy way of presenting things. I think people know the economic picture is bleak. But I think people want hope.

Are you going to tax pensions? All these difficult questions that they might not actually even know the answer to yet. So I don't know if it was the most politically savvy way of presenting things. I think people know the economic picture is bleak. But I think people want hope.

And yes, okay, it makes sense to get all your worst policies out, most unpopular policies out of the way at the beginning because you don't have to face the electorate again for five years' time. But, you know, the media isn't going to be kind. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're going to put you in a corner. And there is something to be said about...

And yes, okay, it makes sense to get all your worst policies out, most unpopular policies out of the way at the beginning because you don't have to face the electorate again for five years' time. But, you know, the media isn't going to be kind. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're going to put you in a corner. And there is something to be said about...

thinking about what the electorate wants to hear and thinking about what voters want to hear and trying to make things a bit more hopeful for them.

thinking about what the electorate wants to hear and thinking about what voters want to hear and trying to make things a bit more hopeful for them.