Streamlined monarchy will be able to do less

Somewhat to his surprise, Robert Hazell appeared in the Netflix documentary on Harry and Meghan.  With his co-author he reflects on modern monarchy and points out that a streamlined Royal Family we be able to do less, creating an expectations management issue: https://theconversation.com/netflixs-harry-and-meghan-the-sussexes-are-not-unique-in-being-royal-victims-196738

Voters up for grabs

Rob Ford provides five lessons from the last election: https://swingometer.substack.com/p/5-lessons-from-the-last-election?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

He notes: 'Whatever comes next, there are more voters in play than ever. Traditional partisan alignments have been fading for decades, and the Leave and Remain tribal attachments forged in 2016 may also be losing their hold with Brexit off the agenda. Two of the three most volatile elections in modern history have come in the past decade, with almost half of voters switching sides at least once between 2010-17. '

What a state we're in

There are some great insights in this very well written review of the political year.  Sunak is described as an 'interim CEO coming in to manage a bankruptcy.'  Truss is described as offering 'Ladybird-style Thatcherism'.  The Government has been 'plagued by a profound incoherence'.   The underlying message is that we are in a parlous state, yet Labour has no plan for government: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/this-government-is-dying-what-comes-next-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer

Good news for Labour at Chester

Rob Ford analyses the City of Chester by-election result which is good news for Labour: https://swingometer.substack.com/p/the-city-of-chester-by-election?utm_source=substack&publication_id=1186392&post_id=88171032&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true

The Conservatives did badly despite the absence of a significant challenge for the right.   Recent opinion poll boosts for Reform UK were not reflected in the result.