Tensions are rising within team Keir Starmer | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

As Labour prepares for power, two think tanks - the Tony Blair Institute and Labour Together - are vying to control its future.
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Splits over education, the NHS, Europe, immigration and worker's rights mean that Labour still doesn't have a clear song to sing ahead of the general election.
Andrew Marr discusses the influence of think tanks on the Labour Party.
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Andrew Marr is Political Editor for the New Statesman, and is one of the UK's most senior political journalists. He spent over 20 years at the BBC where he was Political Editor and hosted the wildly successful Andrew Marr show. He is now based in Westminster where he brings his deep experience of political reporting to his analysis of the most important events in UK politics. He also hosts Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC Radio.
Watch more videos from Andrew Marr in this playlist: • Andrew Marr
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[@paulaspinall919]

Privatisation does not have a good track record for the people of the UK.

[@gavinmc5285]

it doesn't have a bad record though. the record is mixed.

[@andybrice2711]

It really depends on the specific details of each service and the structure of the contracts. For example: Unbundling phone lines, TfL outsourcing bus operation, and the NHS utilising private hospitals have all been quite successful. But privatizing gas, water, and rail has been a disaster.

[@keiranokeeffe6682]

​@@andybrice2711outsourcing isn't privatisation but it's the gateway to it.

[@andybrice2711]

​@@keiranokeeffe6682 Not necessarily. I think that's the Slippery Slope Fallacy. Yes, outsourcing can be an underhand means of backdoor privatization. But when done with honest intentions, it can also just be a pragmatic solution. For example: London's buses have been outsourced for decades now. No one is trying to privatize or nationalize them. The system works quite optimally as is.

[@csharpe5787]

Except it doesn’t. And have you seen the tourist track record lately? Even Thatcher sold off the family silver, and now we’re paying the price.

[@eileenclark7744]

Just pop over to the US and ask people who either can’t afford Medical Insurance or who have fallen foul of the system and found themselves not covered what they think of their own system. Risk our NHS in the hands of the big American Health giants at your peril.

[@samlee86421]

Even if you are insured, you still have to pay some costs that if you get really sick can be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

[@lenabo9929]

This is classic scare tactics and will stop progress. We do not want USA healthcare no say that. I ask you how other countries manage to have brilliant healthcare systems and involve private healthcare. America is no the rule

[@christinefiedor3518]

I trained in the nhs and was very proud of it but it took living and working overseas to make me realise that there are many other countries who have infinitely better health systems. The US model is not the best when it comes to affordability and fairness. I now live in Australia where it is partly Medicare and partly private. Its means tested , if your earn over a certain amount and you don’t have private health insurance then you are simply taxed more , you have the choice. People on benefits and pensions have concession cards . Yes you do have to pay a gap for some services but with a concession card holder will pay a very small amount. Pensions are also means tested but this makes much fairer and ensure hat people that need it actually get it . This also means that there is more to go around. One of the first we noticed is that wealth of the country is much more evenly divided among the population. Several years ago I suffered a major stroke and I was treated as a public patient in a public hospital. Neither I or my family could fault the care I received. And I’m a retired double qualified registered nurse. Finally, my 90 years old Mum who lives in uk had a hip replacement. She went private as the nhs waiting list was so long. It was very straight forward with no complications but it cost her £16000! A couple of months later a friends (also from Uk) , his father in law who retired out here also the same op which was done privately. Again no complications but the cost was $18000 which equates to £9000, How come there is such a big difference? And the care is just as good if not better out here, plus our health care professionals get paid considerably more than in the UK. One thing to be aware of is that there is a lot over servicing goes on within the private health industry. But the difference in cost means that some people are making a killing if you’ll forgive the unfortunate pun. Ps in the news last night it was announced that aged care workers have been awarded a 28% pay increase despite the pay already being considerably better than the uk before the rise. And you can’t get a job in the sector without a baseline vocational qualification or be working towards it. Overseas qualifications are not always comparable and need careful cross referencing so bridging courses may be required to be undertaken. That’s over and above the language test. This is all to ensure standards are maintained. Countries such as Germany and the Australia started planning for an ageing population shortly following WW2 whereas successive governments in the uk have simply been kicking the can down the roads and now the chickens are coming home to roost☹. I can’t believe what’s happened to the country of my birth that I still love dearly.

[@bm8641]

NHS is gone mate. The Tory succeeded .

[@samlee86421]

@@christinefiedor3518 means tested goes against the core principles of the NHS. Doctors don't want to turn people away because of how much or how little they earn. Also, why should rich people who pay the most in tax not use public services. They pay for it like everyone else.

[@norwaylife7615]

Palantir should never ever be trusted with anything to do with the NHS. If it is, everyone should individually deny access to their personal data. To give them access is to betray us all. Its not that analytics are not of future importance, but because they are.

[@zakmann1422]

No private company should have any control over the NHS. Privatisation has not worked for the public in any way. Privatisation is just a way for companies to force the public to pay public money, tax money, to private cpmpanies at inflated levels for bad services that never live up to the expectations promised by the companies.

[@AbAb-th5qe]

We don't trust foreign powers with newspapers now. Why should we trust them with healthcare?

[@samlee86421]

The NHS is making us sick? How healthy then are Americans with their private healthcare?

[@colincampbell4261]

​@@mattyward1979In the USA they'll charge you for the pain killers.

[@gavinmc5285]

line item receipts

[@colincampbell4261]

@@mattyward1979 the NHS picked me up from the roàd after a motorbike accident 3 weeks in hospital, broken ribs and bashed up knee. No charge.

[@andybrice2711]

I mean, if you're rich then US healthcare is world-class, and often years ahead of the NHS. But the NHS is a lot more cost-effective.

[@samlee86421]

In an emergency you are totally f***ed in America. An ambulance costs a fortune and if you are treated out of your insurance network hospitals then you will be pay 100% out of pocket. Even if its a life threatening emergency.

[@richardelson3261]

We were in Montana on a mountain road trip just before the pandemic on holiday. My wife had to go to hospital after a fall and with just one night's stay we had a bill of 10,000 USD for the insurance to negotiate for years. The service was great (there was hardly anyone there) but we were simply a revenue stream so every single interaction with anyone there (some unsolicited / unnecessary) was charged. What we learned there was that the poor locals with no private medical insurance just self-medicated (see USA painkiller addiction stories) until they were dying when the last resort was A&E. And debt. Or death. Palantir seem highly unlikely to have the health interests of ordinary UK people as their priority.

[@gingersgiraffes219]

Don't do it! I'm American and our healthcare system is crap!!

[@rustynail1194]

Already happening. Has been for a while.

[@mitchmomlc]

dont let capitalists anywhere near your daughter

[@JupiterThunder]

At least it doesn't kill you.

[@gingersgiraffes219]

@@JupiterThunder Actually, it does!

[@alexandermallinckrodt2847]

It’s not one or the other. Thee are other systems which are not the broken UK or US systems. The German system has a significant private sector element, just as one example.

[@w0033944]

It would be horrible to see a Labour government privatise the NHS.

[@gio-oz8gf]

Nobody is talking about Labour privatising the NHS. Do you people not understand English? Talk about Chinese Whispers.

[@hodgebodge]

It'll be an "Only Nixon could go to China" situation.

[@petestan5186]

Starmer ain't labour he's a trojan

[@boxtradums0073]

The diet tories will do it too. Wes Thatcher is licking his lips

[@ZeeUK21]

What's left of the NHS?

[@terry9819]

Future disability assessment: We've looked at your records and the AI says NO.

[@AndyRossism]

Well I had a human assessor make up stuff about me , so maybe the AI would at least not do that lol (assessor basically made up a promiscuous sex life about me to imply that it showed I can't have a mental health issue, last time I ever try talking about experiencing abuse to the likes of them )

[@kerrynewnham8946]

Tony Blair should just keep out , he was never “of” labour. He put in PPI . His record in the Middle East disastrous. We want nothing to do with his type of Vision.

[@keiranokeeffe6682]

Should have been arrested but he's right about the tech industry. We don't have one and we are years behind, Dominic Cummings tried to pioneer it too before he went for his eye test behind the wheel haha

[@Toodyslexicforyou]

No way are they going to sell the NHS data. Disgusting!

[@BoyeeSmudger]

Already happening, there was (is I'm sure) a way to opt out of it. Think was from the surgery

[@sophiejohere]

I thought they had already sold the data off already

[@RunOfTheHind]

I had a health questionnaire from my doctor t'other day. Didn't answer it. Bound to be headed straight for our future private health insurance companies.

[@Joe-og6br]

I'd stop using technology entirely if you're worried about data going to private companies. 😂

[@RunOfTheHind]

@@Joe-og6br I don't mind them knowing what I buy on eBay or what flavour of grumble vids i like watching. They're all a given. But to do a health-specific and probing questionnaire that'll probs end up in the hands of those who will determine what my premiums will be when the Tories and red Tories have done away with the NHS is a different matter.

[@alexyordanov7324]

I’m in Australia and I’ve been reminded of how good free healthcare can be. Tried to book an appointment and they offered me one tomorrow! We can make a return to this with our NHS.

[@ThomasMcAulay]

That’s because we pay for our appointments

[@andrewpayne6437]

It is very chilling to hear corporate America speaking so dismissive and arrogantly about our institution that has been beaten by 14 years of neglect, yet still remains the beacon that represents a civilisation striving and caring for its citizens. I cannot wait for the NHS to be returned to safe hands.

[@mikefarrell526]

I would say it has been going on far longer than 14 years, more than 20year. Take the politics out of it. A 25 year plan should be put in place, no matter who is governing the country. That plan should include modernisation. Private doctors and clinics should be completely separate from the NHS. Certain procedures that you want..vanity should not be done on the NHS. Social care and Cancer care should be a part of NHS but should not be in a hospital ward bed...

[@TootlinGeoff]

Get Palantir Out. They are very dangerous. With attitudes like that of their CEO. Labour are wrong to let the Rwanda bill through as well.

[@scooby1992]

Dont think they are letting it through . The tories have such a large majority in parliament they can do what they want .

[@TootlinGeoff]

​@@scooby1992 They can get it through the commons but not the Lords. The Lords can keep the ping pong going till a GE is called as there isn't time to invoke the Parliament act to push it through.

[@casteretpollux]

Labour is Occupied. New party urgently needed.

[@mickpearson6268]

Labour needs Starmer to be Clem Attlee not Tony Blair

[@christianround2774]

They need him to be both. But he is closest to Harold Wilson really.

[@garycannon2887]

He’s more Cameron than Blair

[@keithparker1346]

More closer to any Tory than is healthy​@@christianround2774

[@Crouchy232323]

Vote Starmer get Theresa May

[@SlowhandGreg]

​@christianround2774 dunno the guy is pragmatic to the point of sheer frustration, he'll have a majority the likes we've never seen + a large slice of selection control it won't be like the current tory faction chaos

[@Jason787]

Sad that only a private company is fit to use such data for profit but the government is not able to use it for the good. What a sad state of affairs.

[@colincampbell4261]

Let the Teachers decide what teaching methods are used. Good teachers know what works with children. Good schools are already using new technology in the classrooms.

[@BocaoZ]

It depends A LOT on what you mean by technology

[@lordcharfield4529]

That Tony Blair’s name is on anything, especially coupled with “global change” is beyond terrifying!

[@tatata1543]

I look at this lot and a feeling of utter hopelessness consumes me. We really are fecked.

[@Matt-ou7tu]

According to Andrew Marr it's wonderful! 😂

[@tatata1543]

@@Matt-ou7tu I’m not sure if he is gaslighting or bullshitting.

[@agedcorsair6707]

Palantir's CEO is also a hard-line supporter of Israel. I would protest any plan that gave them access to NHS data or, indeed any involvement in the functioning of our country. He is evidently more loyal to Right-Wing Authoritarianism than to Human Rights

[@misca-sp7uf]

Had to slide that one in didn’t you

[@agedcorsair6707]

@misca-sp7uf Did I have to mention their connection to one of the world's most advanced surveillance States? Yes. I think I did

[@timothypye901]

​@@misca-sp7uf Are you implying it's false?

[@johnwright9372]

What does health care have to do with Israel?

[@agedcorsair6707]

@@johnwright9372 Directly? Nothing (perhaps). But of all the responsibilities shouldered by the state, none touch our lives in quite the same way as healthcare...and in no other field is ethics so centrally important to what it does. In Palantir's CEO we have a man who has made it plain that he is prepared to take both reputational and financial damage in support of a hard-right Israeli government that cares little for human rights and who's personal ethics are therefore subject to doubt.

[@colincampbell4261]

Do not trust Tony Blair, never!

[@happychappy7115]

I signed and sent a standard letter to my MP, personally denying access to my medical data by 3rd parties. If I find this has not been respected, law suits will follow 😮

[@WilliamLHart]

Nero (Sunak) fiddles while Rome (Tory Party) burns. Labour's string section waits in the wings with the same song sheet.

[@beachcomber1able]

Marr never mentioned potential troubles ahead between Starmer and the Scottish Branch of his party. 😄

[@boxtradums0073]

When have the Eng.lish ever cared about anyone but themselves

[@OneTrueScotsman]

I am looking forward to Starmer winning for that reason. He's going to kill off Labour 's chances in Scotland, and the support for the union for good. People here in Scotland already don't trust him or his policies. There's some people on the fence re independence, a few years of Labour will push them over to our side.

[@beachcomber1able]

@@OneTrueScotsman Couldn't have put it better myself. 😊

[@richierich7609]

Oh dear God; blind faith in American tech companies and "AI" as a solution to problems. This way lies madness.

[@mwmentor]

I find it remarkable that anyone still trusts Tony Blair, and actually takes anything that he says seriously. If the NHS data is to be mined in any way by private enterprise, with which I do not disagree, at least keep it British in perpetuity. Has everyone forgotten what happened to Cadbury's and various other?

[@michaelwilliams3232]

If I hear 'Fings Can Only Get Better' once more on BBC radio 2 I shall scream!

[@gavinmc5285]

living the d:ream

[@robertalenrichter]

Speaking as a German surfing the net from Berlin, certainly eye-opening about the degree of influence that the American tech libertarians have in the UK, perhaps a further consequence of Brexit. I find this convergence of a self-serving ideology, money and technology quite terrifying. But, there is more philosophical scepticism here. Germany won't be bringing back Schröder politics, even as the UK returns to Blairism, nor will the EU be moving in that direction, despite the predicted shift in Brussels after the election. Although Marr says that it won't be Blair redux, it certainly sounds that way.

[@danielbliss1988]

if Biden gets re-elected with Democratic retention of the Senate and Democrats regaining control of the House, these tech libertarians are going to be somewhat out in the cold -- you'll see a push for restoring those components of Obamacare that were gutted under Trump, lowering the age at which one can enroll for Medicare, further tightening of regulations on drug prices and other products and services sold to hospitals and patients, and that's one reason they're trying to stick their claws into Europe.

[@KamiInValhalla]

The company should be a UK company that way you can keep the money and expertise in the UK.

[@SurinderKaur-cl1wu]

Why is an American billionaire given the NHS contract to profit from our data? Why is it all about money?

[@God_help_us]

because the politicians are owned by the bankers

[@2945antonio]

This was classic Andrew Marr, that I so miss - eloquent, economical with words, loaded with substantive issues, balanced, astute observer of the UK current affairs, illuminated by his vast experience. Thank you for this exposition.

[@donttrip8282]

Nothing about any of that sounds good, if I wasn't already not voting for them, this information would have helped me come to the same decision. It is telling Marr sounds so excited, makes me have flashbacks to his interview with Chomsky when he drops the mic on Marr as to why/how he got to where he did.

[@flik.]

well said!

[@user-lk2ln5tz5s]

Thanks, Andrew. The NHS needs to be in safe hands.

[@keithparker1346]

And that's not Labour or Conservative

[@user-rt1rh9py4v]

There is a wonderful Russian word, BARDAK, it actually means a brothel but it is commonly used in every day speech as meaning chaos, not any old chaos but irreparable chaos. It describes the NHS exactly.

[@BabelSongs]

There aren’t any safe hands

[@guyrichardson6556]

If the NHS data is so valuable maybe some careful thought should be put into how to generate the most income from it - and preferably not from flogging it off to a right wing psycho who wants to privatise it. I do think that psycho has a point though about iatrogenic medicine. But again, I think it is less significant than he thinks and would need careful evaluation before changes are made. If you look at the US system, iatrogenesis is rife - they’ve even got kids and dogs on anti-depressants for example. As has happened with vets here, private insurance inevitably leads to insane inflation in treatment costs and an inclination to medicalise every facet of normal life.

[@NsD3001]

When your talking about the British, there is absolutely nothing that's nor for sale.

[@michaelellis7326]

Exactly !

[@fsbayer]

This is so depressing. No hope for an even marginally less horrific future.

[@brianeduardo1234]

Looking from the outside that sounds terrifying - I feel sorry for the electorate in England and Wales - NI and Scotland will vote their own way

[@punditgi]

As an American living in the United States I love the New Statesman and especially Andrew and his commentary. Bravo, sir! 😊

[@ricktownend9144]

Thank you for this analysis - this is a level of depth which is great to have, but is definitely disturbing. I just hope that Starmer is still in touch with the moral sense which he appears to have, to enable him to say 'Get thee behind me Satan' at the required moments.

[@Titus9508]

Nothing whatsoever points to that.

[@boxtradums0073]

Keir Thatcher is no friend to the working class

[@Pobotrol]

@@boxtradums0073 I don't know how people can judge that until he's been in a position to actually change anything.

[@boxtradums0073]

@@Pobotrol what is he offering ? We know where he stands on the bankers bonuses and opening up the NHS to even more private interests. He’s demanding reforms from the NHS not increasing spending. No wealth tax. No further devolution and guarantees that the devolved administrations will actually be listened to. The Brexit gammon will be pandered to no doubt.

[@hilaryporter7841]

Do you mean, appeared to have before he dismantled all pledges one by painful one.

[@philippajoy4300]

Thanks for sharing. Privatisation in the US wastes huge amounts of money for lews good care; and, I dont think the British people want their medical information mined.

[@barryfraser8952]

Really enjoyed the analysis of the tensions within the Labour Party’s upper teams. I think I’ll takeout a subscription to New Statesman.

[@sophiemedlar]

Appreciate this granular analysis of the Labour operation. Makes me slightly more tolerant of the vacuous interviews they are giving publicly - only hope they will avoid total sellout.

[@rissamohabir7415]

Thank you. This certainly gives an insight into the serious nature of governance.

[@enemywithin1295]

I work in the NHS, the days of it being absolutely free at the point of care are over. The population is much older, and sicker in ways that we weren’t even 30 years ago. Obesity is incredibly high and with that come all sorts of further health issues. The Belgian system seems to be one of the best. Any honest politician would come out and say, in the current form, the NHS is not sustainable.

[@user-mn4cc6bb7t]

What you say has been obvious to me for decades, as I have seen older generations of my family living longer and using more NHS resources. Unfortunately, no politician seems brave enough to say that we British need to pay more to keep the NHS going, because it is electoral suicide.

[@ProfessorChomsky]

I sometimes think, when hearing all this kind of stuff, while of course it can't be dismissed, the core, basic things of what the mass of people want - decent schools, a good NHS - public - the return of water and the utilities to public ownership - seems to be lost. We don't want focus groups telling these carpetbagging chancers what to say, we want conviction, we want beliefs and we want policies that come from this and we want our left politicians to argue and fight for this and to convince people. I've never been so pessimistic in all my life.

[@terryloftus3207]

Much to my shame,Blair fooled me TWICE,BUT I still hate the TORIES.

[@ZeeUK21]

Bliar was a protégé of Thatcher.

[@AJGladys]

The problem is labour, much like everyone else trying to plan for the mid term, haven't got a clue if the election is going to be in 10 weeks or 10 months. Everything related to the economy and policy is in stasis, i've had 3 meetings with people in construction this week where housebuilders are in limbo worried about the change in policy direction sooner or later. Labour cant cost anything for fear of more fiduciary policy traps, and they also cant announce any good ideas because the tories could try and steal them due their own minimal initiative. The whole country is grinding to a halt, paused for an election that may be nearly a year away.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

All of the West is in real problems. Decades of open borders Globalisation has hollowed us all out.

[@boxtradums0073]

Nonsense Labour have no ideas they are the diet tories nothing more !

[@keithparker1346]

Traps? What nonsense. When Labour gain power they would be able to change them. I think you're just providing Labour with excuses

[@Gary-le7dz]

Andrew your better than invented journalism

[@hilarykirkby4771]

I have spent five months living in the States, in California. Beforehand I imagined an affluent, educated state, but I have never seen so many peope in wheelchairs - mostly because they cannot afford the treatments necessary to restore mobility. Great!

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Even if Galloway is controversial the Labour party must respect its voters choices or risk anarchy. The Tories have already pushed UK close to this. 🤔(Green Fire UK) 🌈🦉

[@taraskywalker453]

Superb commentary and added context for what's happening at the moment. I love this format of videos - keep them coming ✨

[@tatata1543]

“everybody there is beautiful, everybody there is young, everybody there is well dressed” 😂. What a load of utter nonsense Marr talks.

[@danielbliss1988]

what he means is you've got a lot of twentysomethings and thirtysomethings with good hair and fancy degrees who are from prosperous backgrounds. He's not talking about Blair himself.

[@tatata1543]

@@danielbliss1988 Obviously 😂

[@jamesgibson2179]

You mean tensions are rising in Likud-UK. Please call a spade a shovel !😊

[@callumgordon1668]

Not in a lucky bag… as for privatised healthcare, while there are centres of excellence, most of the system is there to lever revenue at each hand off. Many care events and procedures cost 10-20x multiples to what the marginal (nhs) cost is. I wouldn’t have Starmer’s Labour Party in a lucky bag and I’m fortunate to live in a part of these islands where I can cast my vote elsewhere.

[@mattematt]

You say the resaon that Labour don't want their peers blocking the Rwanda bill in the Lords is because it would make fighting the election more difficult, but I thought it was because the Conservatives far outsize Labour in the Lords so they were worried that if Labour win in the election that the Lords would be constantly blocking them as much as possible

[@algernonsidney8746]

If Labour win Starmer can ask the King to create as many peers as possible to gain a majority in the House of Lords. So there will not be any problems there.

[@mattematt]

​@@algernonsidney8746you're not wrong, but for a party which supposedly aspires to modernising the upper chamber I don't think they're going to go for exhaserbating one of the main issues over too many peers by doing that. But perhaps they will

[@happychappy7115]

Would anyone trust Bliar with anything related to OUR future?😮

[@hilaryporter7841]

Very un-nerving pictorial depiction of Starmer, it evoked the many headed water monster of greek mythology.

[@TheZlugg]

The worry I have is that Starmer seems to have all the (charm of and) characteristics of James Callaghan. I think he is desperate to ditch Angela Rayner and along with her the commitments that he (hasn't quite) made on workers rights and public ownership (not just public funding of private business). Another winter of discontent anyone?

[@simonperrins5175]

Food for thought Andrew, food for thought!

[@DanePavitt]

10:52 What an utterly ridiculous, contrarian collection of words. It's like an edgy teenager whos just discovered philosophy & is trying to come across as smarter than they actually are. You can do it with almost anything. Drinking causes thirst, eating causes hunger, walking causes falling

[@ShahzadAli-mm6xu]

What an insightful analysis. Thanks Andrew Marr.

[@davidcoon645]

Many thanks for an informative explanation of the current tensions and preparations for a new Labour government. Let’s have more of the same!

[@tesserakt54]

Private healthcare isn't.

[@brianmcmanus2550]

Andrew Marr at his best. Irrespective of your own opinions on the subject matter, The manner in which it is delivered is outstanding. Put away your paintbrushes for a while yet sir, you have much to contribute to deliniate the state of play as we approach the forthcoming election. BM 01.27 am, Monday, 18 March.

[@vintagestuffguy1998]

What a horrendous injustice. The money made from the use of that data should be an amazing way to help fund an NHS which is admittedly increasingly burdensome on the national budget. The NHS desperately needs funds, this data is public data of the British people, if money is to be made out of it then it seems only right for that money to go back into the public benefit. Run by a man who openly supports privatisation and clearly has some outstandingly horrible views on the genocide in Palestine. Rarely does a news story make me so angry, even now when things in the UK are not doing well.

[@Jon-hh3gz]

Rich coming from the US who practice medicine without a license via insurance. Labour should stay far and clear from such people!

[@tomg268]

What Keir Starmer is currently offering in terms of policies definitely is not to the left of the Blair government - at least with Blair there was a minimum wage, sure start centres, and a large increase in funding for the NHS and Education. Starmer is just offering more austerity.

[@TranscendentalDentist]

Where did Blair get the money? Giving PR advice to the world's despots, including Netanyahu, who he is currently helping on what do with Gaza when the genocide is complete.

[@coppershark1973]

Whatever...

[@stephenholmes1036]

No more Bliar, No more centralised Bliar institute. All of the establishment for tbe establishment

[@SlowhandGreg]

Starmer has had a big hand in selecting a lot of the new MP's given the way the Tories are imploding his majority will be huge

[@boxtradums0073]

And all he’ll do is put forward diet Tory legislation that will change nothing !

[@tewman4943]

Starmer will be no better than the tories. He will be kicked out as leader in a very sort time. The party is split!

[@lamotiengodidal6511]

The problem with winning big majorities is defending them at the next election.

[@daveblack5109]

Only if he can restrain the mouths of some idiot back benchers. All Starmer has to do is make sure their are no policy announcements no subject specific critiques and boom, the Tories hand him the keys to No10 on a plate. Then, Well you'll either need to be very wealthy or skint.

[@oldstatueface6317]

You really have to commend the leaders of this nation on their commitment and dedication. There are no lengths they won't go to, no principle they won't bend on nor any asset they won't sell to ensure that taxes on the very richest stay so historically low as they have been for the past 45 years. Rutger Bregman put it best at Davos, and 5 years on we're still not discussing the use of water at this conference of impressively stubborn firefighters.

[@louisecrownshaw2150]

All NHS providers should be UK companies. The NHS is a UK essential service and asset.

[@ReneeWalinets]

Excellent clear honest review of Labour Together, TB Institute, Palantir etc. So glad to have found your voice again since leaving Sinday Morning.

[@mortyjames5897]

Peter Thiel is right. The NHS is a bad example of a public health service, and the USA hosts a bad example of a private health service.

[@NPC-st7zv]

Great. I can't wait to get a government that gets it's policy ideas from the Tony Blair institute. More of the same. There is no political solution.

[@francescahamilton6856]

Excellent. Did not realise that Tony Blair has a Powerhouse: Platform/Hub setup in Central London. The British Political System needs a complete overall, but I'm not sure Labour is the answer. Every1, at the moment, feels Politically bankrupt.

[@PhantomRaspberryBlower]

Sadly with pressures of the baby boomers now reaching old age and the fact there is no possibility that our social services can cope with that and no significant money. Makes some form of private investment 'sell off' in health, social care and other public services completely unavoidable at this stage. None of the politicians have been honest about that at all.

[@JupiterThunder]

Tony Bliar Institute for Global Hell.

[@gavinmc5285]

third way @ 03:45

[@Tdoshok]

So many dismaying things here but... as a trained educator, that "AI education solution" is horrifying. Not least because multiple choice gives you no actual understanding on what (if anything) a student has learned on a topic, nor how deeply they've understood it. It's a test that allows for simple data collation, not a test that allows for meaningful education. I miss when there was a left wing in politics. This labour party is feeling very diet Tory.

[@sirfrozsomji3984]

Basically, what it means is that instead of the unlimited government funding going to public bodies running the NHS, it would go into the private pockets of the already rich multi-billionaires making them even more richer

[@andrewhancock104]

Sounds like a whole cold new way to be screwed.

[@mikeypreston8626]

Incredibly well informed and thoughtful. Thank you

[@junehartley2770]

No Palintir or sale of NHS this is criminal

[@4462a]

These very clever people who are offering their services for free you say, well you’ll find their services are only free at the point of delivery, just like the NHS , we’ll all pay the price for their services at a future point. And we’ll have NO say/control over what that price is.

[@Schiltron]

So the data owned by the NHS is worth more than 10 billion pounds per year for data analytics' companies. So why are we considering selling this massive profitable asset to a US company? Surely there are data analytics companies in the UK that can rival Palantir? If not, why not have government subsidies for UK data analytics companies so they can eventually compete with the US giants? A good example of social democracy surely, with government and private industry working together.

[@martinmorrow1833]

Great article. Thank you Andrew. Kindest regards, Martin Morrow.

[@creepycrawlything]

In the focus on cleverness and AI and thinktanks, the tensions associated with Israel-Palestine-Gaza-West Bank, were not mentioned. Where this neglected issue singularly deviates from the range of tensions Andrew addresses; namely in seeing agonising harm accruing to real human beings. What goes into political process and determination is one thing, what comes out of such process and determination as human catastrophe is a very different and much more important thing. The ultimate outcomes of New Labour were human catastrophes, and many fear that under Starmer the ultimate outcomes will be similarly negative. Andrew was focusing on tensions within team Keir Starmer, but we shouldn't forget how those tensions intersect with more generic tensions between that team and what leadership it yields, and the wider sentiments and thinking of the larger socialist constituency that Labour is entangled with. A constituency who ended distrusting New Labour under Blair, and who fear a repeat of this ending under Starmer.

[@jameswhitfield1375]

Another source of tension could well result from Trump 2, especially if, as a recent European Council on Foreign Relations report suggested, the US regards Europe and the defence of Europe as something for the Europeans to deal with, while it gets on with limiting China's ability to challenge the aspirations of the Wolfowitz Doctrine.

[@donaldauguston9740]

I really quite enjoy these mature, thoughtful tutorials of British government. Thank you, DA

[@abuyusufabdulhakim952]

Worth listening to the Guardian podcast on Palantir. Marr is downplaying the dangers.

[@olofgrondal5937]

Very interesting to hear about the potential economic interest in mining data in NHS.

[@anewsortofgramophone]

This was a fantastic summary! Thank you Andrew!

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting

[@webleydevelopment]

Who owns the NHS data? Dont we own it?

[@adrianjenkins2447]

A very interesting piece. And your final comment regarding not all Labour MPs are singing from the same song sheet is also true. We could have a GE in six weeks, and my MP together with other MPs have lost the Labour whip (mine is Bambos). Why does it take so long to review the evidence, and make a decision accordingly?

[@karlmatagne696]

Most interesting video I have seen in a long time. Thank you for this.

[@bugsygoo]

That's what Britain needs: more centralisation! 🤯

[@kierandoran8196]

Tony Blair is regarded as a War Criminal by millions. He Knighted Stamer. Stamer banned his MPs from joining nursing picket line. For most potential Labour voters thes thing are major issues.

[@MrUnconvinced]

Starmer was knighted in the new year’s honours of 2014 after leaving his job as director of public prosecutions in November 2013. Nothing to do with Blair. Starmer was not selected as a parliamentary candidate until December 2014, and was elected in May 2015. Blair can be blamed for a lot, but not for Starmer’s knighthood.

[@peteraberesford]

Who pays for these think tanks?

[@Roberta-gl2by]

Good report actually! But, if anything, this has confirmed my worst fears about Labour. Think Tanks are the bane of our lives. You insinuate that all information is good. That's not necessarily true at all. First, anyone trusting Blair or assuming he knows anything worth knowing is crazy (Tony Blair Institute FFS? I mean, c'mon...). Second, please note that there is no such thing as AI. It's just a different type of programming on a faster computer. Given that it's not that long ago that the NHS was still using XP, how are we supposed to afford the upgrades required? It's a money-tree for tech companies plus it's emerging, not existant. Palantir and the NHS? Is everyone insane? I mean, we can't trust Blair, let alone these American moguls. Look at that OU clip. Do you honestly think he has our interests at heart. No. They have no heart and, God, I hate right-wing polemic. Why is it that we tend to assume that because the Tories have almost completely bu**ered up our infrastructure and services that we cannot recover? Brexit might have royally screwed us, but we're not incapable yet and are still good at some things (if we are allowed to be - it's not the EU that stopped us, it's the Tories). We have to believe that any proper left-wing party will be able to restore the good things and discard (and burn) the rotten. Why do we have to accept that the NHS can't be unprivatised. It's totally untrue. But this right-wing b*ll*cks? That'll do it.

[@simonzonenblick395]

I'm interested in the detail behind statements like "Millbank Tower ... where Tony Blair & Gordon Brown plotted" etc. One thing I've never quite grasped is whether they actually "worked in" that building day to day, like people reporting for a 9-5 job in a specific office. My understanding was that Millbank was used mostly by Labour staffers led by Peter Mandelson and others, while the likes of Blair and Brown and others in the shadow cabinet presumably operated from their own premises and offices. Was the entire Millbank building used by Labour at this point, or did other bodies also use it?

[@markjackson2642]

Rayner corrupt