Starmer and Reeves promised honesty about public finances. Can they stay the course?

Labour is being pulled one way by a desire to cut debt and the other by slumping poll ratings. With growth nowhere to be seen, tax rises loom

During the first televised debate in the run-up to last summer's general election, Keir Starmer used a phrase that received enthusiastic - and unanticipated - applause from the Salford audience.

I don't pretend there's a magic wand that will fix everything overnight," he told them. Labour strategists were surprised by the clapping, and encouraged him to deploy the line again in future.