Tom Harris

Tom Harris is a former Labour MP and sometime spinner who survived the heights and depths of the Blair-Brown era. After serving as a minister in the Department for Transport he led the Scottish Brexit campaign and founded his own lobbying company, Third Avenue Public Affairs. He now delivers his independent, no-nonsense insight every weekday in the Telegraph. His latest book, 'Ten Years in the Death of the Labour Party', is available from Biteback.

Starmer has the right instincts. If only he had a bit of backbone
He has nothing to lose by saying publicly what he seems to believe and say privately: that the strikes are wrong
Tom Harris27 Jun 2022, 1:40pm

These by-election results are hardly a Labour triumph
Tory voters, even in Red Wall seats, are not entirely confident about switching their votes to the Opposition
Tom Harris24 Jun 2022, 8:21am
Mick Lynch's admirers don't remember the 1970s
Mass industrial action will only further encourage double-digit inflation, drops in productivity and job losses
ByTom Harris23 Jun 2022, 3:57pm
Labour's summer of discontent is an open goal for the Tories, but voters may not see it that way
The public will be unimpressed by the Opposition's inability to condemn the strikes, but may feel more anger towards the party in power
Tom Harris21 Jun 2022, 12:03pm

SNP hypocrisy has reached a revolting new low
The nationalists claimed to have a 'zero tolerance' approach to sexual harassment, right up until the point where it needed to be exercised
Tom Harris20 Jun 2022, 12:06pm
Keir Starmer mustn’t give in to the hard-Left ‘open borders’ crowd
Many of his members want an open door to illegal immigration, no matter the legitimacy of asylum claims. He has to reject that view
Tom Harris17 Jun 2022, 12:32pm
Labour want to change Brexit – but can't bring themselves to admit it
MPs and party members are itching for a debate about our relationship with the EU, just not in public
Tom Harris16 Jun 2022, 1:42pm
Keir Starmer has underwhelmed almost everyone
A leadership election featuring Wes Streeting, Andy Burnham and Rachel Reeves could be the showcase for Labour that the party needs
Tom Harris14 Jun 2022, 12:51pm
Salmond and Sturgeon are prisoners of their own Nationalist delusions
From ferries to independence, everything in the SNP's Scotland is hypothetical - a fantastical version of reality
Tom Harris13 Jun 2022, 11:53am
Labour is tying itself in knots over union strikes
The core question Starmer should ask himself is: if the unions were not affiliated to his party, what would his position be?
Tom Harris10 Jun 2022, 2:35pm

A winter of strikes could bring down Labour
Keir Starmer must go further to condemn strike action triggered by greedy, out of touch unions
Tom Harris9 Jun 2022, 12:23pm
Comparing Boris Johnson to Theresa May is lazy and pointless
The current Prime Minister is an entirely different position to his predecessor
Tom Harris8 Jun 2022, 4:16pm
The Scottish Tories have been painted into a corner
Boris Johnson is deeply unpopular north of the border. But the problem doesn't begin and end with him
Tom Harris7 Jun 2022, 1:12pm
Labour should be very careful what it wishes for
The Conservative Party's regicidal tendencies often derail Opposition leaders. Whatever happens, tonight may be no different
Tom Harris6 Jun 2022, 12:55pm
Labour dares not remind voters that it is still the party of Remain
It is sensible for them to keep silent as a Tory suggests we rejoin the single market. But the omerta cannot last forever
Tom Harris2 Jun 2022, 12:30pm
Labour’s patriotism must be sincere if it is ever to win again
Starmer ‘allies’ on the Left sabotage their party by questioning their leader for wrapping himself in the national flag
Tom Harris1 Jun 2022, 1:00pm
Sturgeon's census fiasco will doom generations to come
The historically low response rate will have a deeply damaging effect – and it's all due to the SNP's petty independence politics
Tom Harris31 May 2022, 12:42pm
Tory MPs could soon come to regret deposing Boris Johnson
They may find that they have replaced a proven election-winner with someone who can't win a majority anyway
Tom Harris30 May 2022, 12:22pm
Stealing the windfall tax may be cynical. But it’s also the right thing to do
Labour may come to regret berating the Government for stealing its clothes
Tom Harris26 May 2022, 1:14pm
Alex Salmond once pioneered the SNP's cynical tricks. Now he's exposing them
He's right: Nicola Sturgeon is using the prospect of independence to distract from her calamitous domestic failings
Tom Harris23 May 2022, 2:04pm
Keir Starmer must offer voters more than not being Boris Johnson
Not being the government of the day has never won a general election for opposition parties. We need something to vote for, not just against
Tom Harris20 May 2022, 3:05pm
The SNP's defence policy is completely unsustainable
Scottish nationalists believe in getting rid of Trident, but have no problem joining Nato and relying on its nuclear umbrella for protection
Tom Harris19 May 2022, 4:01pm