The New Statesman: politics and culture Do we have too many leftist parties?
Nov 1, 2025
Luke O'Reilly, a journalist and colleague at New Statesman, dives into the complexities of UK politics. He tackles pressing listener questions including the viability of the 'Build Baby Build' initiative and the potential fallout over safety concerns. The conversation shifts to Labour's hesitant critique of Katie Lamb, along with speculation on her leadership ambitions. A lively discussion ensues on whether the UK can sustain five large leftist parties, exploring vote-splitting and the role of trade unions in shaping party dynamics.
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Rapid Build Risks Future Safety Scandals
- Rapid large-scale housebuilding risks creating a future safety and quality scandal if standards and regulation aren't fixed first.
- Luke O'Reilly warns Build Baby Build could lead to a 'build baby build scandal' like post-Grenfell failures if rushed.
Steve Reed's 'Build Baby Build' Moment
- Luke O'Reilly describes Steve Reed wearing 'Build Baby Build' hats and generating manic, branded conference moments.
- He notes Reed has staked his reputation and could face political fallout if targets are missed.
Silence Can Be Strategic Amplification Avoidance
- Labour hesitates to amplify opponents' framing, which slows public condemnation of controversial proposals like Katie Hopkins-style policies.
- O'Reilly explains parties sometimes avoid repeating remarks to deny them attention, creating mixed public signals.