David Vance SubstackRead More
You would need a heart of stone not to laugh at Starmer’s latest u-turn on the issue of Mandatory ID cards by 2029. First, let’s remind ourselves of what he was telling the Nation back in October 2025;
And today?
That smell you detect? – it is burning rubber as the Government’s brakes are hit hard! Before people get too excited about this, he is still planning to proceed with Digital ID it’s just that is won’t be mandatory (yet) It is still a humiliation though!
This is just the latest in a catalogue of u-turns by this inept Starmer administration and it does make you wonder HOW any Government could be so inept.
Here is a list of other u-turns made by Labour;
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Inheritance tax on farmers — Initially imposed via the 2024 Budget, partially reversed/raised threshold in December 2025 to protect more family farms.
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Winter fuel payments — Restricted in July 2024 to means-tested pensioners only largely restored in mid-2025 amid backlash.
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Two-child benefit cap — Labour opposed scrapping it pre-election on cost grounds; abolished in the November 2025 Budget.
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Grooming gangs inquiry — Starmer resisted a full national statutory inquiry in January 2025; conceded one in June 2025!
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Disability benefits/PIP cuts — Planned reductions in the benefits bill watered down or dropped in 2025 after backbench pressure
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Employers’ National Insurance rise — Promised no tax rises on “working people” pre-election; hiked employer NI in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
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Bankers’ bonuses cap — Opposed its under the Conservatives but then kept the policy, allowing bonuses to rise significantly.
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Pubs/business rates relief — Planned to scrap or reduce relief faced backlash; partial U-turn/relief extended,
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Welfare/benefits bill overall — Flagship cuts watered down significantly in 2025 after rebellions.
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Royal Mail nationalisation — Promised during leadership campaign; approved private takeover in 2024.
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Trans women definition — 2022 statement “trans women are women” under law; later shifted to emphasise “a woman is an adult female” and downplayed the issue.
In other words, we have had 18 months of broken promises and serial u-turns and these have contributed towards Starmer’s below water public reputation. He is hated, and deservedly so.
There is a lesson for Reform in all of this Labour omnishambles. Labour demonstrate that it is easy to criticise in opposition but much harder to govern when in power. You need competence, fixed principles and an ability to read the British people. PR does not constitute an alternative to actually doing things.
I suspect history will judge this Labour Government as a colossal failure which fell victim to its initial electoral success. It lacks the talent on its benches and it lacks a charismatic Leader. To be successful you need both.
I predict that Starmer’s FINAL U-turn will come in May when he resigns, having assured us he will do no such thing. If he doesn’t resign, Labour are doomed.
