Labour's Essay Wars
5/30/202629 min
Today, the week that the words flew - after Tony Blair wrote an essay saying Labour was "playing with fire" over the UK’s future and Starmer hit back in a Substack article.
Laura and Joe are joined by James Lyons, the former Director of Communications to Keir Starmer, to discuss his time in Downing Street, the essays and articles published by leading Labour figures this week and what could happen following next month’s by-election.
A full list of candidates and loads more information about the Makerfield by-election is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrp1z8n4w2o
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The presenter was Laura Kuenssberg and Joe Pike. It was made by Jon Bithrey with Chloe Scannapieco and Justine Lang. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Jonathan Greer. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJames Lyons· Guest0:00
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Speaker 10:03
[gentle music] She was the sister who went unnoticed.
James Lyons· Guest0:09
A daffodil might look plain next to a lily, but on its own, there is much to be admired.
Speaker 10:14
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James Lyons· Guest0:35
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Joe Pike· Host1:08
Joe Pike.
Laura Kuenssberg· Host1:11
Laura Kuenssberg.
Joe Pike· Host1:12
How nice to be with you on this very hot day.
Laura Kuenssberg· Host1:14
Very hot day. Just the sort of weather for an essay crisis.
Joe Pike· Host1:18
[laughs] Or just the, just the kind of day to stay inside and read tens of thousands of words written by politicians.
Laura Kuenssberg· Host1:23
Which is what students do and school kids do all the time. That's what, that's when the ex- exam season is, I suppose.
Joe Pike· Host1:27
I suppose that's right, studying in the park. Well,