Voters clearly want it – and the recent past suggests he’s a more credible agent of it than Sir Keir.
As markets opened the weekend after Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget and his promise of “more to come”, the pound plummeted to an all-time low of $1.035 against the dollar.
It is in Labour’s interest not to rise to CCHQ’s bait, and allow the Prime Minister to make a few inevitable u-turns.
Any significant agreement with the EU would require continuous alignment between Westminster and Brussels in terms of regulation. Will we end up, to coin a phrase, shadowing the Customs Union?
Instead of a Conservative housing policy that emphasises home ownership and architectural beauty, it will now be done the Labour way. When tower blocks start rising over the Home Counties, I hope that our remaining MPs realise their mistake.
The row over nutrient neutrality rules was an important test of the Opposition’s willingness to confront the vetocracy that ensures we get nothing built – and they failed it.
The logic of the choice remains as Ken Clarke put it – Rwanda or nothing. Sir Keir has swallowed much in his pursuit of power, but Rwanda is a mouthful too much for him, or at least for his party. So he’s trying to bluff his way out of the problem.
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown inherited a strong economy and low taxes, and thus plenty of scope for more spending. Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves would take office in vastly more difficult circumstances.
We might not rejoin, but the political momentum is now with those seeking a closer relationship. From a Brexiteer perspective, Johnson is sounding rather complacent.
The decision involves children, parents, schools and doctors, and has implications for rights, mental health, responsibilities and culture – as well as the management of a restive parliamentary party.
He may have less than a year, as Parliament returns and his Party’s conference looms, to persuade voters of his case – which he has scarcely even begun to make.
In his Parliament of Whores, PJ O’Rourke gave one section the stirring title “Our Government: What The F*** Do They Do All Day And Why Does It Cost So Goddamned Much Money?” But as my research confirmed in various ways, most voters do not see government primarily as an expensive nuisance.
Ministers can do more now to further embed successful reforms and make our schools even stronger: by getting more into great trusts, and signing off another wave of free schools where they can shake things up.
Fortunately, there are plenty of half-completed measures ministers could see through in time for the next election, from recognising product standards to locking in new trade deals.