Harriet Harman Takes the Mic on Electoral Dysfunction Podcast: Shares Candid Views on Prime Minister’s Strategy and Party Dynamics

Harriet Harman becomes a regular host on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, where she discusses her opinions about the Prime Minister and his concerns about making too many promises to the public.

Politics correspondent @NifS

Friday, August 30, 2024, 08:

Veteran Labour politician Harriet Harman is set to become a regular fixture on Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, joining the team as a permanent contributor.

The ex-interim head of the party and the house's matriarch will now join Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby and Conservative peer Ruth Davidson as the trio of women delivering weekly news and opinions to the audience.

In her debut as a host, Ms. Harman expressed her enthusiasm on today’s podcast, stating she was "absolutely thrilled" and "really excited" to join as a regular contributor. She added, "I was so excited when Electoral Dysfunction kicked off, and it's been wonderful watching it grow stronger and stronger."

"I feel like I'm on the verge of something truly incredible as I actually become a part of it."

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Ms. Harman was elected as a Labour MP in 1982 after actively advocating for greater female representation within the party and Parliament.

Two years after her initial appointment, she assumed the role of shadow minister, and upon Labour's ascension to power in 1997, she undertook a variety of positions, notably serving as the inaugural minister for women.

She did not seek reelection in the recent summer election, but she is set to become a Labour peer in the Lords when parliament reconvenes next week.

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Discussing her perspectives on a challenging week for Sir Keir Starmer, who alerted to a "painful" upcoming budget in October because of the £22bn deficit in the government's budget, Ms. Harman mentioned she would give him some leeway.

She drew a parallel between the current prime minister and a former one during her podcast interview, saying, "I recall when Gordon Brown was Chancellor, he often spoke of 'prudence with a purpose'—essentially, being extremely cautious with government spending, but always with a clear objective.

"Keir Starmer is currently focusing on caution rather than ambition. It seems he wants to temper expectations regarding how quickly changes will impact people's daily lives."

Ms. Harman expressed her belief that her party leader was excessively worried about underperforming in government, fearing it could foster voter discontent. She emphasized that any unrealistic promises he made could only exacerbate the situation.

"In his recent address, he discussed the erosion of both societal and economic bases. He seems quite resistant to making overly ambitious promises."

Explore further: Controversial tweet on smoking ban deemed offensive. Potential tax increases anticipated in upcoming budget. Starmer seeks renewed relations with the EU.

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She was taken aback by the optimism shown by the newly elected MPs regarding his stance.

"Ms. Harman expressed concern about whether the newly elected MPs, many of whom took office in July, were feeling overly anxious," she said.

"They argue, 'we were upfront from the beginning, acknowledging that the road ahead would be difficult and progress slow. We committed to making challenging choices to ensure stability.'"

"It appears that they believe this outcome is what they and their constituents anticipated."

"Definitely, it's quite the opposite of 'razzmatazz'. However, maybe he’s onto something. Let’s find out."

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Remember, you have the opportunity to catch Electoral Dysfunction live during its tour in September.

To purchase your tickets, please click on this link. The schedule for the performances is listed below:

• London – Thursday, October 12th at Bloomsbury Theatre

• Salford – Monday, October 16th at Lowry Quays

• Liverpool – Sunday, October 22nd at St George's Hall

• Glasgow – Thursday, October 26th at The Glee Club

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