Such sentiments are not limited to the left, however. “She’s no more a Labor MP today than she ever was,” another right-wing Labor MP, granted anonymity to speak candidly, told POLITICO after Elphicke’s apology.
A third MP, who is a shadow minister, said: “Those who were already very unhappy about the defection are getting angrier. »
Kate Maltby, a commentator and anti-harassment campaigner, warned Starmer against “wasting” his chance to become the Party of Ethical Standards.
Yet the Labor leader and his leadership team appear undeterred from asserting their moral standing, with Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell due to give a speech on Tuesday accusing the Tories of “degrading and degrading” trust in politics.
According to a member of the Labor Party of Women Parliamentarians’ Whatsapp group, several people posted messages expressing outrage at the Sunday Times revelations, then quickly deleted them – apparently wary of the leaked messages.
It seems that even those in the party who are seriously concerned about decisions made by the leadership have learned to value unity, or the appearance of it, above all else – which means that for now, Starmer appears free to bond friendship with whom he loves.
Politices
