maybe not a ringing endorsement but still enough momentum to remove the current conservative government.
Just wait a few months for those small "c" conservative voters to be fed up with rising taxes, poor public services and 5%-7% inflation.
The polling gap will widen then to 10% or more.
Nobody ever really knows but Labour's strategy since Blair days hasn't been to offer what people really want, rather they wait for Tories to be so bad Labour inherit no 10 by default... The expectation being Tories lose power rather than Labour win it.
But its proven time and time again to simply not work. It's a terrible strategy to be dependant on the failures of the opposition, it leaves them in control.
Had Sir, Alex Fergus son had same strategy Liverpool would never have been kicked off perch.
Labour must be attractive in their own right and not as simply "can't do any worse".
It's why voters are as so taken in by Tories.
Labour haven't changed to become poll leaders, Tories have slumped. There is a massive difference. All tories have to do is pass blame for their slump or change to what voters want.
We will see in a few years time but I, d have a bet come next GE Tories have a healthy lead at polls and will win next GE.
Had Starmer grown his lead at Polls by doing or saying something I, d tend to agree with you. He didn't, Tories messed up with Party time. Sort that out and Starmer is back in second place.
(and to be fair it's where he belongs, I think Rayner would stand more chance)