Starmer Faces Own TACO Problem After Latest Policy Reversal

In 2020, then opposition leader Keir Starmer accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of “serial incompetence” following a series of U-turns. Now he’s in the top job himself, a slew of damaging policy reversals have Starmer facing the same charge.

On Tuesday night, the government backed away from making possession of a digital ID card mandatory for anyone to secure a job in the UK, saying other electronic identifiers would also be acceptable. That was only the latest about-turn by the government, which despite enjoying a sizable majority in the House of Commons, has gained a reputation for turning tail whenever Labour backbenchers oppose a policy.