Hobson's Choice.

"Sunak, a place filler in the final act of Tory collapse, has opted to pull the ejection handle, knowing he has a safe landing awaiting him."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has officially called for a general election to coincide with his family's move to California for the new school term in August. Secured school places and Mrs Sunak's busy house-hunting schedule have likely paved the way. That's the only logical reason for the odd timing of the election. A July 4 date will give him plenty of time to clear Downing Street and be on his way across the pond to sunny climes.

The announcement of the general election, made in a rain-soaked Downing Street without an umbrella, is a pivotal moment in British politics. This decision, seemingly rushed and lacking in authenticity and candour, reflects the current issues and dynamics. Here is a man who claims to have a plan when he can't plan to have an umbrella. 

The upcoming election holds potential challenges for both the Labour Party and the Conservatives. While labour is expected to secure a victory, Sunak, a place filler in the final act of Tory collapse, has opted to pull the ejection handle, knowing he has a safe landing awaiting him. The same cannot be said for his colleagues, many of whom have expressed their reluctance to fight their seats, adding to the uncertainty of the election. 

Hundreds of others will lose their seats, so expect a flurry of podcasts by ex-MPs seeking to leverage a career from their failings. After all, Rory Stewart and Alastair 'Goebbels' Campbell have set the template with their "The Rest Is Politics" effort.

Despite the imminent victory for the Labour Party, there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm for the incoming leader, Starmer, and his team of centrists. The Labour Party long ceased to represent the working class. Under Tony Blair, it morphed into a collective of middle-class, socially liberal types who treated workers with a patronising "we know best". 

And it was the working class hit hardest by uncontrolled migration quietly initiated by Blair.

However, it's worth noting that Sir Kier Rodney Starmer has working-class roots. Did you know his father was a machine toolmaker? Don't worry; Sir Kier will remind you at every opportunity. 

Sir Kier was educated in state schools and was the first in his family to attend university. He also served as the Director of Public Prosecutions and was knighted for his public service by a Tory PM. While these antecedents should resonate with the North London champagne socialists, they may not necessarily connect with residents of the decimated post-industrial towns.

Yet, it's important to note that the idea of Labour politicians coming from working-class backgrounds has been a misconception for many years. Nowadays, MPs from all political backgrounds often emerge from the middle class, and a good portion took the prestigious Oxford Philosophy, Politics and Economics course.

Some argue that the Oxford PPE degree has significantly contributed to the decline of UK politics over the past 40 years. The course is criticised for promoting strict adherence to formulaic neoliberal economic policies, which are seen as driving to the global financial crisis of 2008 and subsequent austerity measures.

When Labour wins, Rachel Reeves will be the new Chancellor. She is a PPE graduate and a former Bank of England wonk. She supports the orthodoxy of a budget balanced with careful costings. However, this stance conflicts with her statements that Labour won't adopt more austerity measures.

It seems unsustainable to maintain both positions. That may be why Labour is adopting the mantra, 'We need ten years to repair the damage.' Therefore, her public statements likely contain a degree of ambiguity that will tide her over until she's in office. You could also call that ‘misleading’ or ‘lying’. 

Those hoping for increased funding to address NHS waiting times and other failing public services will likely be disappointed. While there may be some headline promises and temporary increases in funding, it's doubtful that the long-term commitments needed will materialise. Labour is already playing that game by suggesting an extra 40,000 NHS appointments weekly. How? That detail is sketchy. 

Moreover, the prospect of any enlightened policy is off the agenda because Reeves doesn't want to spook the markets, who are the ultimate arbiters of whether a fiscal policy is acceptable. Forget the electorate — that pretence of democracy — the judgment won't rest with the money men. As loony Liz Truss (another PPE aluminums) found out, you upset the markets, and they will punish you. 

In her interviews, Reeves comes across as a rationalist in many respects, which must be welcomed after the recklessness of recent years. 

For all these reasons, the team led by Starmer rarely discusses details or provides specific undertakings. Still, reality will catch up with Labour quickly. There is an awful lot going wrong in Britain: failing NHS, a collapsing prison system, knife crime, out of date infrastructure including a third world train system, a military unfit for purpose, shocking injustices as revealed by the Post Office saga, the tainted blood saga and rape gangs ignored by the authorities for decades … the list goes on.

Therefore, I anticipate a brief period of popularity before the economic challenges, lack of long-term investment, and the repercussions of Brexit resurface. 
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Which brings us to the bogey man. Nigel Farage's decision to step up and lead the Reform Party has injected a new dynamic into the lacklustre election campaign. His robust debating style and presence will no doubt generate more lively debates, putting the Conservatives and Labour on guard. While Sunak's Conservatives are likely to lose voters to Reform, Starmer's stale manner will face a challenge from the Farage onslaught, making the election campaign more intriguing and unpredictable.
 
Nonetheless, as George Galloway MP observed, “Starmer and Sunak are two cheeks on the same arse.” In short, Labour will win and it makes no difference who is in power. You’ve gotta love democracy.