Most effective Labour frontbencher: Anna Turley MP, Labour Party Chair
This is Anna Turley’s second Uncut award. She was our Labour politician of the year back in 2019, another annus horriblis for Labour. Back then it was for taking on the libellous bullies of Unite and Skwawkbox, this year it is for for leading a step change in effectiveness of Labour’s attack operation. Since taking up the reins as party chair, the party has been quicker and sharper in responding to political developments.
The response to the Farage racism scandal is illustrative of the change she’s brought. The Guardian broke the story at 1500 on the 18th of November. Rather than waiting several days, hemming and hawing about what to say, the party chair was up with a quote 90 minutes later.
Labour Chair Anna Turley said: “These are disturbing allegations and it is vital that Nigel Farage now urgently explains himself.
“We have seen Farage’s weakness in the face of the divisive politics in Reform’s ranks. They are dragging our politics to a dark place”
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) November 18, 2025
It’s clear from her quote that there wasn’t a clear line from Number 10 but Anna Turley understood the importance of ensuring a Labour voice was prominent at the start of a major story cycle. So she leant as far as she could within the parameters of what was possible, to insert Labour into the conversation, without triggering blowback and diverting the course of the story (note no mention of race in the quote). The fact that the party chair had commented meant Labour MPs were empowered to pile into the attack and to be much more explicit about their views on Farage and racism. The momentum of Labour MPs’, activists and councillors commenting boosted the story, pushing it up the broadcast agenda and shifted the dynamic within Labour. By the 21st of November, the Prime Minister was criticising Farage on racism across broadcast media.
Job done. A case study in modern communications and how to manage Number 10 into active decision making. More please in the new year.
Most effective political communicator: Zohran Mamdani
Uncut consulted a reporter who travelled through Pennsylvania during the 2024 US presidential election. All the Trump posters promised Strength to tackle Prices and Borders.
A year on and prices have not fallen. Inflation persists, with wages not growing fast enough to compensate for the dramatic spike in inflation during the pandemic. Trump has also enacted policies that have added to inflation (e.g., tariffs) and acted in ways that communicate different priorities (e.g., the push for a grandiose White House rebuild).
