Political Currency Emily Thornberry on the Corbyn era, being left out of government and Starmer’s first year
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Aug 28, 2025 
Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, delves into the Corbyn era, imagining a world with Prime Minister Corbyn and how the UK might have fared. She reflects on Starmer's first year, advocating for more confidence and a strategic approach to inherited challenges. Additionally, Thornberry shares insights from her two decades in Parliament and emphasizes her unwavering loyalty to the Labour Party, while the hosts discuss the intricacies and stakes of government reshuffles.
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Confidence Over Chasing Every Critique
- Thornberry says Labour's main weakness is lack of confidence in its message, not merely policy disagreements.
- She urges clear explanations and standing ground while listening to criticism.
Inherited Fiscal Limits Shape Options
- Thornberry highlights the scale of fiscal and public-service problems inherited from previous governments.
- She says constrained finances and legacy policy limits the new government's room for manoeuvre.
Announce Clear Plans With Sunset Clauses
- Thornberry urges the government to diagnose problems, present a clear temporary plan, and commit to sunset clauses.
- She uses the criminal courts backlog to illustrate proposing short-term procedural changes with a defined end.
