The New Statesman | UK politics and culture Can Labour win the next election?
Jun 20, 2025
George Eaton, Senior Editor at the New Statesman, and Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor, dive into the Labour Party's chances for victory in the next election. They tackle the shifting political landscape post-2019 and the rise of the Reform party. Class issues, long overlooked, are back on the agenda, with a focus on how Labour is trying to reconnect with working-class voters. They also discuss the importance of rebuilding UK-EU relations and the economic opportunities that could arise from trade agreements.
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Labour Can Still Win
- Labour's path to a second term is not impossible despite recent mistakes.
- Politics moves fast and much can change in a parliamentary term, so predicting outcomes early is unreliable.
Labour's Key Challenges
- Labour needs to address living standards, NHS wait times, and immigration credibly.
- Keir Starmer leads in PM polls, aided by tactical votes against unpopular figures like Nigel Farage.
Labour MPs' Precarious Outlook
- Many new Labour MPs fear they might only have one term, affecting party morale and decision-making.
- This precariousness pressures government to reverse unpopular policies to appease constituencies.