Does Labour have a death wish or does it secretly enjoy the agony of self-sabotage?

"Up till now it's been tempting to give Labour the benefit of the doubt. That being in opposition for 14 years has made them ring-rusty. That they've forgotten how this government thingy works. Hadn't quite realised they were supposed to be in charge. But now it's beginning to look like Labour has a death wish. Not that it doesn't quite know how to run the country, more that it is hell-bent on self-destruction."

"The budget megashambles. Months of leaks, briefings and press conferences, some of which only took place to reverse-ferret on what had been said in previous leaks, briefings and press conferences. A timeline on when the Office for Budget Responsibility delivered its report that is at best confused. OK, the reaction from the Tories and some lobby journalists has been deranged. The idea that Rachel Reeves was somehow deliberately misleading the country and was guilty of market manipulation is a characteristically desperate response from Kemi Badenoch."

Labour's prolonged time in opposition initially suggested ring‑rustiness, but recent behavior resembles deliberate self-sabotage rather than mere incompetence. The party appears reluctant or uncomfortable in power, treating opposition as a safe space and undermining its own authority. Achievements have been drowned out by a pattern of chaotic decisions: policy freebies, benefit U-turns, and a disastrously mishandled budget process. The budget involved months of leaks, contradictory briefings, reverse-ferreting and a confused Office for Budget Responsibility timeline. Hostile reactions from opponents and commentators intensified the fallout, and a steadier, less shambolic lead-up could have prevented much speculation and damage.

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