Criticism of Keir Starmer’s position over the Rosebank oil field development has raised the question once again – what does Labour stand for? The Labour leader has taken his party back to the middle ground after the turbulent Corbyn years.

He knows he has to win back the so-called Red Wall seats and attract floating voters from “Middle England” to win. It is a strategy that appears to be working.

Labour are miles ahead in the polls and look set to form the next UK government. But, time and again, voters can be heard questioning where the difference lies between the Tories and Labour.

It is a failure of Starmer’s strategy that this question is being asked at all. The Conservatives have been a disaster. In 13 long years, they have brought the UK to its knees and diminished the country’s global standing.

The five prime ministers in that time can all stake a claim for being the worst ever. Only the most partisan of Tory voter could possibly want this horror show to continue. At some stage, Starmer must show the confidence needed to put the question to bed.

Whether his party’s position on our relationship with Europe, the economy or the environment, what Labour is offering must be clearer. A failure to stir the blood may lead to apathy among voters which could create space for the Tories to exploit.

Starmer and Labour must not allow this to happen. The Conservatives remaining in power would be a tragedy for the country.

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Give kids break

Teachers need to cut kids some slack if they are struggling to do work set during strike days. Pupils’ education has been in a constant state of flux since Covid lockdown in 2020.

Home-schooling, safe distances in classroom and teachers’ strikes all caused disruption but none of the constraints on their education has been the children’s fault. It is right that teachers and headteachers try to ensure any further obstruction is kept to a minimum.

But while it is important children are engaged as much as possible during the latest school strikes, to threaten pupils and parents with unauthorised absences if schoolwork is not returned within a short time frame is unfair. Not every parent can drop everything to teach and support their children in schoolwork at home.

There needs to be better communication and understanding to help everyone cope.

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