One of the advantages of saving newspapers to read later is the ability to test their columnist's ability at short-term prophecy. So, by Monday lunchtime (yesterday) the cabinet had been appointed (Friday), the first cabinet meeting had taken place (early Saturday) and, having done an encouraging thank-you video to the Civil Service, Keir was back from a tour of the Home Nations and had posed with the new Labour intake for a formal picture before heading off to Washington for a NATO summit and a bilateral with Biden.
The Defence Secretary had been to Ukraine, The Foreign Secretary was in Poland (I think, he moves fast), planning regulation for onshore wind had been eased and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was setting out her housing plan. Her direct and simple answer to a provocative question was refreshing:
Reporter: So you are relying on the private sector to build all these new homes?
Chancellor: Of course. The Government doesn't build houses.
In 1997 Blair's New Labour had a big trick up their sleeve which they had not leaked. After five yearsof interest rates being used as a political football they gave the power to set them over to the Bank of England. It was a huge, symbolic move and remains one of their great achievements.
If you haven't got any big reveals an alternative is to demonstrate speed, command and control. Starmer seems a different man when in charge. It's probably why he's been put in charge of things all his life. He has begun with the enthusiasm of someone who has hated opposition and wants to get as far away from it as possible.
I'm a realist. The new government might eventually disappoint me, do things with which I disagree and maybe fail to deal with a crisis as well as they should.
But it's been an impressive start.
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