I was at the North Dorset election count in Blandford. As I finally left the sports hall around 5:30am, I congratulated the re-elected Conservative MP Simon Hoare, for whom I have a lot of respect. I said to his colleague, “make sure you keep your party from steering into the vile embrace of the far right,” to which he jokingly replied “and you keep Labour sensible!”.
The joke was on him – I have as much influence on the Labour Party as my cat does.
However, if you are worried or sceptical about this new Labour Government, might I just focus your attention to the very simple, yet very deliberate act of the cabinet appointments. Over the weekend that followed the landslide victory, I felt absolute relief. We have returned to a Government with a leader making ministerial appointments that make sense, with expertise in each position and relevant life experience. British politics has been crying out for this.
Our new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is a former director of public prosecutions: someone with experience of management and leading, someone capable of making hard decisions for the greater good.
The chancellor of the exchequer is Rachel Reeves – someone whose entire political ambition has been to become chancellor. She worked for the Bank of England, she understands the economy.
Then there’s deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – someone who didn’t attend private school or university, who left school at 16 while expecting a baby, has risen through adversity and now holds one of the highest offices in the land.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper – former chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, worked for Bill Clinton before his election victory in 1992, served past cabinet positions in the Brown government. She has broad and long term political experience.
Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
Similarly, Foreign Secretary David Lammy led the campaign for the Windrush generation to be granted full British citizenship, and has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Fire.
Minister for Prisons James Timpson – awarded an OBE for services to training and employment for disadvantaged people, is known for advocating for former prisoners.
The new Science Minister is Dr Patrick Vallance – clinician, scientist and pharmacologist, past president of R&D at GSK and a former government chief scientific advisor.
Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband oversaw the introduction of the Climate Change Act 2008 and is co-chair of the Institute For Public Policy Research Environmental Justice Commission.
The attorney general Richard Hermer is a serious international lawyer whose work has included the Afghan unlawful killings inquiry and the task force on accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine.
I hope, reading these appointments, I have moved your needle slightly, to feel relief and confidence in this new Labour government. Although this is just the start, I think the foundations have been laid for a successful and meaningful government, to address the issues that we face and enact the positive change that the country needs.
Guy Perkins
North Dorset Labour Party
