AFTER weeks of turmoil Sir Keir Starmer has to come clean with the public about the future direction of his government.
Next week’s Labour conference will be a major test, not just of his judgment but his entire leadership.
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As rivals manoeuvre to challenge him there is massive unrest among millions of hard-working grafters hammered by taxes, inflation and soaring prices.
They are sick to the back teeth of seeing migrant numbers rocket with no credible solution in sight.
Voters are also furious that while they face even more tax hikes in November the obscene £300billion welfare bill stays untouched.
And that is why many marched under a sea of flags in protest last week.
The PM has already hit out at “plastic patriotism” and today he condemns those who used the march to whip up hatred and attack police.
He is right to point out that there must be no place for violence in any political rally.
But Sir Keir must also grasp that this protest goes far deeper than the tiny minority of thugs.
Thousands of people of all ages up and down the country are flying flags.
Not because they are extremists but because they want a better deal.
The PM says Britain is at a crossroads and urges a patriotic path of national renewal.
So for a start how about putting some money back in the pockets of voters instead of pouring it into the £803billion bottomless pit of Net Zero? Or unveiling a new plan to cut welfare?
Sir Keir likes his football.
So he has to understand that unless he does something radical he will lose not just the fans but the dressing room too.
Slaves to madness
IS there any domestic legislation less fit for purpose than the Modern Slavery Act?
This misguided piece of liberal do-gooding was introduced by Theresa May in 2015.
Its well-meaning intent was to crack down on gangmasters who illegally exploit people.
In reality it has become another millstone around our neck in the battle to prevent illegal migration.
It is open to widespread abuse because a migrant can claim asylum in the UK by saying they were a slave anywhere in the world.
Not surprisingly, the number of small boat migrants using it to stay in Britain has soared by 250 per cent in just four years.
Almost two-thirds were found to have no reasonable grounds.
It is bad enough having to battle Strasbourg’s courts on human rights without this damaging domestic legislation.
It must be immediately revised to stop this madness.
