Labour leader Keir Starmer has been hosting regular Wednesday lunch meetings with newly elected MPs in his House of Commons office after Prime Minister’s Questions. These gatherings typically include about a dozen MPs at a time and feature Pret a Manger sandwiches, snacks, political discussions, and constituency-related concerns. However, not all attendees are satisfied with the brief nature of these meetings.
Due to Starmer’s packed schedule, the sessions are often short, leaving MPs with only a couple of minutes to present their issues. One MP described them as a “box-ticking exercise,” noting their fragmented nature and limited opportunity for in-depth discussions.
Some suggest that Starmer could take inspiration from former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who invested considerable effort in keeping his backbenchers engaged, even when Labour had a strong parliamentary majority. John McTernan, Blair’s former political operations director, recalled that Blair regularly interacted with MPs, not just to promote the government’s agenda but also to identify emerging political talents.
Blair’s government made a conscious effort to engage with MPs by hosting receptions at No. 10 Downing Street for regional parliamentary groups, often including their spouses and partners, recognizing their influence in local constituencies.
Charlie Falconer, Blair’s former justice secretary and longtime associate, emphasized the importance of maintaining communication with Labour MPs. He described the Parliamentary Labour Party as a crucial gauge of the government’s direction and values, stressing that the prime minister must consistently provide clarity on their leadership.
Securing details about Blair’s current private political discussions is challenging, as the former PM prefers to keep them confidential. However, recent meetings appear to have been attended by many parliamentary private secretaries—junior government members often regarded as future political leaders.
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