What the Tories got wrong on housing

Sir Keir Starmer may be our first atheist prime minister, but his manner in parliament resembles that of what, in House of Lords terminology, is called a ‘Most Reverend prelate’. There is a lot of sonority about serving others, disagreeing well etc. These are good sentiments but, when trying to be good, ‘show, not tell’ is better. Adopting an archiepiscopal tone, a political leader is quickly tripped up. For example, Sir Keir wants to drive peers aged over 80 out of the Lords, thinking this conducive to the public good; and yet, as I write, he is having his first much-prized bilateral with Joe Biden, who is six years older than the Nato alliance whose 75th anniversary western leaders have gathered to celebrate. President Biden’s mental condition may rather prove Sir Keir’s point, but he cannot say that.

On defence spending, however, Sir Keir should be supported for not automatically promising to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. He is right that if you measure success by spending X amount of money before working out what you are spending it on, you will waste it. Modest congratulations, therefore, to John Healey, the new Defence Secretary, for flying to Odessa straight after his appointment and offering Ukraine a new, specific extra defence package which included, pleasingly, 50 new ‘military boats’ for river crossings and coastal work. This is small-scale (such boats last only a few weeks in the terrible conditions of the Dnipro), but it will answer short-term needs. It suggests belated official recognition that Ukraine’s need for these boats trumps the danger involved. Unfortunately, Ukraine cannot succeed without fighting dangerously.