"There is a theory in British politics, often attributed to Tony Blair, that you need to be careful about throwing a boomerang in opposition, because when you make it to power it could come back and hit you in the face. As opposition leader, Keir Starmer became adept at landing blows on the Conservatives. Over the Partygate scandal in particular, he called for Boris Johnson to quit over his rule-breaking."
"You cannot be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker and it's time to pack his bags, he said. After Durham police launched an investigation into whether he had broken lockdown rules himself over having a beer and curry at a campaign event, he took a huge political gamble and said he would quit if he was found guilty. Luckily for him, he was not."
"Maintaining such levels of probity, not just for himself but for his cabinet, was always going to be an impossible task, especially in the flawed world of politics. But few foresaw that it would be Starmer himself who would be the first to undermine his own position, when his failure to see that accepting free glasses, clothes and Taylor Swift tickets could break what little belief there was that his government would be different."
Political theory warns that attacks made in opposition can return when in power. As opposition leader, Keir Starmer landed blows on the Conservatives, especially over Partygate, and demanded Boris Johnson quit for rule-breaking. Durham police investigated Johnson over a beer-and-curry lockdown incident; Johnson said he would quit if found guilty and was cleared. Lisa Nandy labeled Starmer “Mr Rules” to emphasize his probity. After taking power, Starmer and his government faced scandals including accepted free glasses, clothes and Taylor Swift tickets. Ministers resigned: Louise Haigh over a 2014 fraud conviction, and Tulip Siddiq over harmful ties to her aunt, the ousted prime minister of Bangladesh now accused.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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