OPINION - The one thing Labour doesn’t want to talk about could define them

In January, as the economic storm clouds lingered over Westminster, like a gigantic Monty Python-style anthracite boot, I spent a bit of time with the people looking after Sir Keir Starmer. They were doing what all parties do at times like this when they think they might be in with a sniff of government, namely reaching out to those members of the press who they think might be useful. Or persuadable. Or potentially influential. Or frankly — especially in Starmer’s case — just mildly curious.