They may not command the power that they once did, but newspaper endorsements are still highly-prized by political parties. Labour is trying to convince voters that they have moved on since the Corbyn era, with the backing of Fleet Street’s titles being a useful way of demonstrating this to their readers. The endorsement of the Sun this week comes after four years of effort by Keir Starmer’s to show that his party has truly changed.
Facing a landslide loss, the Conservatives meanwhile are getting only semi-enthusiastic support from the Tory press. The Daily Mail for instance is advocating tactical voting for the Tories to ensure it provides an effective opposition to a prospective Labour government, while conceding that the party is not realistically likely to win the election.
The overwhelming majority of the press is backing Labour but the Times has proved to be a notable holdout, declaring that ‘Labour has yet to earn the trust of the British people.’ Below is a list of all the newspaper endorsements at this election:
Labour (14):
The Sun – ‘As Britain goes to the polls, it’s time for a new manager. (And we don’t mean sack Southgate!).’
The Evening Standard – ‘After 14 years in office, the Tories have earned the right to lose.’
The Sunday Mirror – ‘A Labour victory is as crucial now as it was in 1945, which created the NHS. This election is about saving it.’
The Sunday People – ‘Voters are urged to turn out to back Labour on Thursday, ending nearly a decade-and-a-half of Tory cuts, chaos, sleaze and blundering so we can heal broken Britain.’
The Observer – ‘There remain tough times ahead, but only a Labour government can begin to deliver the real change that Britain so desperately needs.’
The Daily Mirror – ‘The new generation needs a Labour government more than ever’.
The Sunday Times – The Conservatives have ‘forfeited the right to govern’ and it is ‘the right time for Labour to be entrusted with restoring competence to government’.
The Guardian – ‘Labour has climbed out of the crater of its 2019 defeat, and it stands on the brink of power with some eye-catching policies.’
The Independent – ‘Labour must turn its promises into policies that benefit the hardworking and hopeful people of this country.’
The Economist – ‘It has the greatest chance of tackling the biggest problem that Britain faces: a chronic and debilitating lack of economic growth.’
The New Statesman – ‘Labour has a chance to renew faith in politics as a vehicle for progress. For the sake of democracy, it must take it.’
The Financial Times – ‘The Labour party of Sir Keir Starmer is better placed today to provide the leadership the country needs.’
The Scottish Sun – ‘It’s time for a change of management at Westminster and for Scotland to send a message to the failing and sleaze-ridden SNP that their time is up. That means it’s time for Labour.’
The Daily Record – ‘Change is coming and Scotland can be a part of it, so for the first time since 2010 we are asking our readers to vote Labour.’
Conservative (6):
The Sunday Express – ‘Your vote is not simply to decide if Britain needs change. It will decide whether Sir Keir Starmer is allowed to deliver that change. If you have any doubt he is the right person, the only sensible option is to vote Conservative.’
The Sunday Telegraph – ‘Despite the unedifying nature of the campaign, this could come to be seen as one of the most consequential general elections in decades.’
The Mail on Sunday – ‘It is not all over yet. Vote Conservative on Thursday and we may yet escape a long and punishing season of hard Labour.’
The Daily Telegraph – ‘A Labour government might well bring change, but it will not be of the good kind.’
The Daily Mail – ‘Disillusioned Tories may wish to punish their party for its manifest failings of recent years. In doing, so, however, they must be careful not to punish themselves by ushering in something far worse.’
The Daily Express – ‘Vote Tory or hand Labour unchecked power.’
Other (3):
City AM – ‘For now, it is hard to conclude anything other than this: this government is out of energy, out of ideas, and should, therefore, be out of office. Does this mean a full-throated endorsement of Keir Starmer’s Labour? That is, unfortunately, beyond us.’
The Daily Star – ‘Count Binface, the most sane politician in the UK.’
The Times – ‘Labour has yet to earn the trust of the British people. It has been sparing with the truth about what it will do in office and cannot expect an endorsement.’
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