The Return of the Blairites: Keir Starmer is right to use their experience

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The most striking of the comments from Sue Gray’s anonymous detractors before her departure from No 10 was this: “If you ever see any evidence of our preparations for government, please let me know.” It was at that point that the departure of Keir Starmer’s first chief of staff became inevitable – indeed, it duly followed two weeks later. The critical issue of “delivery” is the NHS, and Lloyd and Barber in No 10, allied with Wes Streeting, advised by his predecessor Alan Milburn in the Department of Health, and armed with a decent funding settlement from the Treasury, are beginning to look like a team that can get waiting lists down. Still, they are in there now, and cabinet ministers took part in an “away day” on Friday to discuss “sharpening up” the five missions of Labour’s manifesto. While I’m not certain he’s the ideal fit for dealing with Trump directly, his intellect would at least command respect.” There will be many excessively online opinionators who will complain that bringing back the hated Blairites from decades past is hardly the “change” that Starmer promised.