Impressive from @Keir_Starmer on #marr. It’s day 2 & challenges ahead, but I saw something for first time in a while:

A Labour politician from centre left not giving formulaic answers or cowed by interviewer. Sticking to line of ‘mistake’ of austerity after 2010. Excellent.

What the left will have to get used to is someone who isn’t your figurehead and who will often do things you don’t like (Corbyn should have written for the Sunday Times btw). What is more much of the political machine around Starmer is from right but here’s the thing >

They literally don’t have any policies. In a situation with high budget deficits they have no idea or plan beyond doing the same as the Tories but ‘nicer’. Is Starmer stupid enough to think that works? No. Judging by interview most certainly not >

Re backing government on a potential prohibition of outside exercise this is not politically or legally enforceable, so shouldn’t happen (and would be actively bad). From his time at DPP we know he’ll defer to government on stuff like this. That’s going to be a challenge for him.