counterpoint: at some point the sheer level of hubris from the tories does start to have consequences. the public does notice and it can see through who treats them with respect and who doesn't, and an outlook to questioning which treats them with respect and one which doesn't https://twitter.com/KajunFirefly/status/1264083563684790272

fundamentally, ed miliband wasn't seen as treating the electorate with respect in 2015 because his claim that he wouldn't go into government if he had to rely on the SNP was straight up unbelievable. the labour 2019 manifesto was seen as an orgy of promising the earth.

voters gave boris johnson the benefit of the doubt when all they would agree to trust him on - and the one thing he sold himself on - was getting brexit done. he was the least approved and trusted leader to be elected PM ever.

ultimately, Starmer's approach actually doesn't need to go big on moral outrage and calling Boris every name under the sun. the mere act of pointing out the recurring gap between the record and the government's own premeditated, brazen claims is disqualifying

people are rightly ordinarily sceptical of the efficacy of factchecking ordinarily, but it's a different matter when it's on something that a. risks the lives of people's loved ones, and b. has put people's lives on hold pending progress in the government tackling the disease

starmer acknowledging where the government has done a good job actually gives these critiques more weight - he transparently isn't being unfair for political purposes, but for scrutiny. the government responding to this by alleging opportunism, bookcooking and lying really tells.

when the public finds out the main strategy for brexit is not actually to get it done and make it go away, but to barrel for no deal - especially in the midst of a crisis - then really the one thing the public gave boris the benefit of the doubt on is gone. they don't trust him.

questionable to what extent risking people's lives so blatantly can really be overridden sufficiently by partisan brain - ultimately, people don't like it when their relatives die if they can see the government isn't being straight with them.

even if it comes from this, or has to wait until the tory brexit solution is revealed as not making the topic go away at all, the tories are heading for a big precipitous poll collapse in the next few weeks/once brexit rears its head again. and they're acting like they deserve it