After months of dysfunction and miscommunication, is the Starmer method finally working? | Rafael Behr

Rishi Sunak had until 28 January next year to hold the election.

The equivalent deadline for Keir Starmer is 21 August 2029 .

With just 121 Tory MPs, Kemi Badenoch will struggle to have much impact in parliament.

Starmer 's character contains none of the traits that made Johnson such a wellspring of chaos.

Supporters of Chris Wormald say he can be trusted to undertake institutional rewiring without smashing everything.

Sceptics say that means ineffectual tinkering.

Another complaint is that the prime minister’s plan looks like a revival of New Labour's target-driven deliverology’.