Why is the Labour Party unable to take advantage of Boris Johnson’s missteps?

From the crisis in the NHS to a chief adviser run amok, the opposition seems incapable of exploiting the government’s problems, writes John Rentoul

Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer speak at a Labour leadership hustings in Glasgow last week (Getty)

A leadership election can either give a party the chance to show off its talent, or it can result in weeks of introspective paralysis. Labour’s current campaign seems intent on taking a holiday from reality and allowing Boris Johnson to set the terms of debate for the next four years.

The format of Labour hustings is not designed to give the candidates a chance to attack the government. Most of them have been taken up with would-be leaders striking poses to appeal to party members.

Journalists have struggled to generate headlines, which means that a lot of coverage recently has been about abolishing the monarchy, trans rights and which former leader is going to be in the shadow cabinet.