“I think it comes more from a not wanting to shy away from difficult tradeoffs, difficult problems, and really wanting to crack on and do things quickly,” he said. “I think that’s where it’s maybe gone wrong”.
Asked about whether he feels the government needs to reset its policy prospectus, given its declining poll numbers, Athwal was defiant. “A lot of things that have happened over the last year which don’t necessarily get shiny headlines and I’m not sure I’d expect the average member of the public to have noticed them,” he said.
But he added: “They will make a difference as long as the government remains focused on the delivery of them.”
Athwal described a feverish effort in government to make good on growth-boosting infrastructure projects. “I see Rachel Reeves sit there with her table of projects that she has announced and really honing in on asking, is this thing being delivered? And I think Keir is exactly the same way.”
But Athwal acknowledged that time is of the essence – especially given the growing popularity of Nigel Farage and Reform UK, which continues to lead in U.K. polls.
He reflected: “The thing that is fueling the popularity of Farage is the sense that the country is not working.”
Labour, he said, needs to deliver quickly. “The electorate isn’t attached to the Labour Party in the way that I am … they’ll deliver their judgment.”