Five Most Popular Posts in May

May has been and gone in the blink of an eye, but the subjective experience of temporality cannot erase the fact 23 blog posts were added to this corner of the internet. And these were top of the pops by audience views.

1. Politics after the Local Elections
2. Writing about Keir Starmer
3. Untangling Reevenomics
4. What is National Conservatism?
5. Nick Cohen and Media Solidarity

The local election results grabbed the excitement of the internet-travelling public last month. The Tories forecast a loss of a thousand councillors, and Rishi Sunak exceeded expectations. Well done that man. Labour did well and, as argued, are on course to win the next election outright on the basis of these results. But the ghost of opposition's future manifested in very good night for the Liberal Democrats and Greens. As long argued here, Keir Starmer can't rely on the progressive bloc of voters that constitute Labour's new base if he takes them for granted. In at number two was my cry of despair after spending too long staring into the cynical void that is Starmer's politics. On reflection, ignoring him and focusing just on the Tories and other things is unsustainable. Labour are going to shape politics for the next decade for good and ill, and so crying off from the task of tracking, analysing, explaining, and opposing is impossible if you're a socialist scribbler. Not that my hiatus from Starmerism lasted long anyway. Speaking of which, in at three was Rachel Reeves's speech unveiling her economics. One that surprisingly caused a stir among some Twitter users for whom Labour are identical to the Tories and to suggest there might be differences is akin to endorsing Starmer and his works. The National Conservatism conference came in at four. The highlight of which has to be Jacob Rees-Mogg admitting voter ID was all about suppressing votes. And a late entry comes in last in the shape of Nick Cohen, his wandering hands and the solidarity shown to him by his media colleagues. Classy.

Here are a couple of posts that didn't make the cut. In what might possibly be the last post I write about Stoke-on-Trent, we had a look at Labour's victory there. And, given its importance, Starmer's speech on the NHS was quite important, actually. Both for what was said and what is unsaid.

With the second chancers out the way, what might we look forward to in June? The Covid inquiry logjam comes to its conclusion today, so no doubt something about that and its reverberations. Boris Johnson will be back as the Privileges Committee hands down its verdict. I still want to write something about the recent success of the Green Party. And events, dear boy ... will have its hand in the content this blog dishes up.

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