The Grownups Are Back, But the Circus Remains: John Crace on Labour's Unpredictable Start

2 hours ago7 min read

The political script has been torn up. John Crace, The Guardian's parliamentary sketch writer, confesses he anticipated a Westminster restored to dull, predictable competence after Labour's landslide victory—a return of the 'grownups' to the corridors of power.The reality has proven far more compelling. Instead of the administrative serenity many predicted, we are witnessing a political redefinition where the promise of stability has birthed its own unique form of drama.As an analyst of political transitions, I find this to be a masterclass in the gap between campaign rhetoric and governmental reality. The assumption that Labour's methodical campaign would translate directly into a predictable, uneventful government has been spectacularly overturned.The intrigue now lies not in Tory-style psychodrama, but in the subtle, complex tension between Starmer's pledge of quiet competence and the unyielding demands of the 24-hour news cycle. This is not about a lack of material for sketch writers, but about a fundamental shift in the nature of political theatre.The Labour government is grappling with the core paradox of modern governance: how to execute necessary, long-term policy without being perceived as stagnant or uninteresting. The Conservatives offered high-stakes drama at the cost of effective governance; Labour now faces the opposite challenge—proving its administrative worth while maintaining public and media engagement in an era conditioned for spectacle. This dynamic, the struggle to make stability compelling, will define the political battles to come and test whether a government can truly captivate by being competent rather than chaotic.

#editorial picks news

#UK politics

#Labour Party

#Keir Starmer

#Rachel Reeves

#general election

#political commentary

#Guardian

#John Crace

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.

Comments

Loading comments...