This is very good from @rafaelbehr.bluesky.social (and more edifying than another Enoch Powell meme).
Before he was elected, I remember talking about what Starmerism would be. The closest I could get was ‘respect’. The problem with that mantra is now emerging.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/14/keir-starmer-immigration-trap-of-his-own-making?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Before he was elected, I remember talking about what Starmerism would be. The closest I could get was ‘respect’. The problem with that mantra is now emerging.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/14/keir-starmer-immigration-trap-of-his-own-making?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Comments
He’s painted himself into a corner, and even though the paint has dried, he still can’t get out of it.
Starmer could have told a very different story - persuasive, honest, fair and challenging to the far right. Instead he told Farage’s ugly story in words that Reform would use.
And convinced nobody.
The other is about being racist, xenophobic fucks.
But yes, a Labour leader could implement a Labour policy (instead) and make the case for it.
—Ralph Miliband 1961
“It is hard for any government to earn credit for what they do if voters cannot easily intuit why they are doing it. This is Labour’s big problem.”
I’ve heard for myself what Starmer has said and seen what policies he’s endorsed—actual substance—and there are precious few banners I could get behind.
There’s a very simple reason why the vox pop question is always “who are you voting for?” and not “what are you voting against?”.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/news/uk-hundreds-more-migrant-care-workers-facing-exploitation-070325