Keir Starmer’s Pragmatic Approach to Defeating the Far Right: Filling Potholes

[Social Media]

 

In a political landscape where the far right is gaining ground in various parts of the world, Britain’s newly elected Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has chosen a seemingly unconventional approach to counter this threat. While many leaders opt for stringent immigration policies or aggressive rhetoric, Starmer’s strategy is rooted in pragmatism and a desire to restore the public’s faith in government. His allies believe that addressing tangible, everyday issues like potholes in the roads and reducing hospital waiting times could be the key to defeating the far right in Britain.

 

Starmer’s recent visit to Belfast underscored his commitment to tackling the aftermath of a series of anti-immigration riots that had erupted across Britain. These riots, a rare occurrence of violent lawlessness, demanded an urgent and robust response from the government. The initial reaction was to focus on law and order, a strategy that aligned with Starmer’s background as a former prosecutor. The government swiftly deployed extra police officers, held additional court hearings, and the U.K. Home Office called for volunteers to assist in handling the situation. By the end of the week, over 1,000 people had been arrested, and more than 600 charges had been issued in connection with the riots, as reported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

 

However, the more significant challenge for Starmer lies in addressing the deep-rooted socio-economic issues that have created the conditions for such violence. Starmer’s team believes that the answer to these problems lies in demonstrating that politics can solve real-world issues, thereby rebuilding Britain’s battered faith in its political system. A Labour MP close to Starmer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, emphasized the need to be pragmatic and clear about why politics is still relevant. "There is a deep sense that nobody is listening and that politics doesn’t make any difference. We have to be very pragmatic and clear about why that is not true," the MP stated.

 

Starmer’s crackdown on rioters has resonated with the public, fitting neatly with his law-and-order credentials. Polling data shows that the majority of the electorate viewed the violent unrest as unacceptable, with two-thirds of voters characterizing the participants as “thugs,” according to research by YouGov. However, while only a small minority supported the violence, 16 percent of respondents believed that the rioters had legitimate concerns, with many pointing to immigration policy as a contributing factor.

 

Luke Tryl, director of the polling firm More in Common, highlighted a widespread disillusionment with politics among the British public. "Politics isn’t working and it can’t deliver," Tryl noted, emphasizing that this sentiment extends beyond immigration issues to include everyday concerns such as access to healthcare, long waiting lists, and the rising cost of living. "That is something that politicians need to grasp because it is not sustainable to have a functioning democracy with such high levels of disillusionment," he added.

 

Starmer and his team have long been considering how to address this deep-seated alienation. Their strategy is focused on delivering tangible results over the course of their parliamentary term. The same Labour MP close to Starmer mentioned earlier explained, "The central idea was focusing on a thing that we know we can do, and then doing it over the course of the parliament." This approach might involve something as seemingly simple as "mending every single pothole in Britain," a task that could serve as a symbol of political relevance in areas affected by the riots.

 

The idea of focusing on practical, everyday issues has been influenced by the experience of local Labour politicians who successfully took on the British National Party (BNP) in the early 2000s. The BNP had made significant gains in Barking and Dagenham, a traditionally white, working-class area in East London. Margaret Hodge, a former Labour MP for Barking, drew parallels between the rise of the BNP and the current situation. Hodge recalled that at the time, people felt that the government was not listening to them or understanding their day-to-day problems. The response, she said, was not about "rocket science," but about addressing local concerns such as littering, graffiti, and parking shortages.

 

One of the architects of this local strategy was Morgan McSweeney, who is now Starmer’s right-hand man in Downing Street. McSweeney played a crucial role in formulating Labour’s successful strategy during the 2024 election campaign and is now focused on ensuring that the government delivers on its promises. A senior Labour politician close to No. 10 mentioned that McSweeney is deeply engaged in the process of understanding the various factors contributing to the rise of the far right and devising strategies to counter it. "How to get these people arrested and banged up. And then more deeply about the politics and about the different strands behind it and what the government has to do to counter it," the politician stated.

 

Despite the clear focus on addressing practical issues, some observers believe that Starmer needs to go beyond a purely pragmatic response. Parth Patel, a senior research fellow at the left-leaning think tank IPPR, suggested that there might be a reluctance on the part of Downing Street to engage in conversations about migration. "But if the government doesn’t articulate its views on identity and immigration in modern Britain, basically the most contentious issue of the 21st century, those debates will continually be dragged to the far right," Patel warned.

 

Hodge agreed with the need for a more comprehensive approach. "Now we’re in government, we have a very powerful voice that can start developing a different discourse about integration," she said. The importance of addressing immigration and community identity cannot be overstated, especially as these issues have surged to the top of the list of public concerns, alongside law and order.

 

Successfully articulating a new position for Labour on these issues may prove as challenging as reducing NHS waiting times, but Starmer has one significant advantage at this point in his premiership. As Tryl observed, "People might have low expectations of this government, but they definitely want him to give it a shot, and they want him to succeed."

 

Credit: Politico  2024-08-22

 

 

 

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[sikishrory]

His approach.

Weaponise the media.

Pigeon hole people into categories.

Don't acknowledge any concerns of your citizens.

Make it illegal to speak up about anything.

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, sikishrory said:

His approach.

Weaponise the media.

Pigeon hole people into categories.

Don't acknowledge any concerns of your citizens.

Make it illegal to speak up about anything.

Where did you read this? Sorry, but for me it's not substantial but right wing blablabla.

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

commitment to tackling the aftermath of a series of anti-immigration riots that had erupted across Britain. These riots, a rare occurrence of violent lawlessness, demanded an urgent and robust response from the government.

I've noticed that there are summer riots (aka civil unrest) in the UK nearly every summer.

 

Hardly rare!

Now riots in the winter, they could be called rare.

[Watawattana]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Now riots in the winter, they could be called rare.

Too cold & rainy.  Fair weather rioters!

[Thingamabob]

If we thought the Tories were a mess, and they were, the hope was that Labour could not be any worse. How wrong that was. This is awful, and becoming menacing with free speech under serious threat.

[JonnyF]

Pragmatic? 😃

 

His approach has been deeply authoritarian. Calling the people of Northern Ireland racist. Calling for long prison sentences for FaceBook posts and rushing them through. Trying to scare people into silence instead of addressing the real issues. 

 

Free speech? Not under Starmer. His approach to free speech is like that of Idi Amin. 

 

[MalcolmB]

People complain too much these days. Probably social media makes it worse. Life has never been easier. 
 

They expect the government to fix all their problems.

 

Far right are just dummy spitting losers who need to blame other people for their sad failed lives. 
 

They should just get on with it and cheer up. 

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

People complain too much these days. Probably social media makes it worse. Life has never been easier. 
 

They expect the government to fix all their problems.

 

Far right are just dummy spitting losers who need to blame other people for their sad failed lives. 
 

They should just get on with it and cheer up. 

 

   People in their 60/70's had it easy in their life .

Plenty of high paying jobs and council houses for everyone .

   These days , people often just work to survive 

[Chomper Higgot]

23 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Pragmatic? 😃

 

His approach has been deeply authoritarian. Calling the people of Northern Ireland racist. Calling for long prison sentences for FaceBook posts and rushing them through. Trying to scare people into silence instead of addressing the real issues. 

 

Free speech? Not under Starmer. His approach to free speech is like that of Idi Amin. 

 

Yet more misrepresentation of reality.

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

42 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

His approach has been deeply authoritarian. Calling the people of Northern Ireland racist.

 

   Are you sure that is what he said ?

I expect that he called some people racist, rather than the whole Country 

[JonnyF]

17 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Are you sure that is what he said ?

I expect that he called some people racist, rather than the whole Country 

 

Yeah, it's only the people that disagree with his failing policies that are racist.

 

The classic leftist trope.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yeah, it's only the people that disagree with his failing policies that are racist.

 

The classic leftist trope.

 

 

You need to provide a link Jonny.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yeah, it's only the people that disagree with his failing policies that are racist.

 

The classic leftist trope.

 

 

 

   Was your claim that he labelled all the people of Northern Ireland to be racist , was that a correct claim ?

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   People in their 60/70's had it easy in their life .

Plenty of high paying jobs and council houses for everyone .

   These days , people often just work to survive 

People in their 60/70s have it easy.

Good something for me to look forward to.

Though I won’t be interested in a high or low paying job. 

[Nick Carter icp]

15 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

People in their 60/70s have it easy.

Good something for me to look forward to.

Though I won’t be interested in a high or low paying job. 

 

   Read the whole sentence .

People who are in their 60's 70's NOW , had an easy life when they were younger 

[MalcolmB]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Read the whole sentence .

People who are in their 60's 70's NOW , had an easy life when they were younger 

Nah, they just were tougher, and got on with it.

Without all the complaining. 
No PC woke snowflakes back then.

 

[MalcolmB]

The way Keir fast tracked the sentencing and jailing of the troublemakers makes me think what could have been during Covid if he had of been in charge instead of Bumbling Boris. 
 

Brexit would not have been so botched either.

 

Smart fellow that Keir. 
 

He has my vote again.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Nah, they just were tougher, and got on with it.

Without all the complaining. 
No PC woke snowflakes back then.

 

 

   Back them, you could buy a house when earning a normal wage or easily get a council house and there were plenty of jobs for everyone .

   Its not easy like that these days 

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Are you sure that is what he said ?

I expect that he called some people racist, rather than the whole Country 

Well that would be true.

Many people are racist.

i am racist. 
Many racists are now too woke/PC to admit they are racist.

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I've noticed that there are summer riots (aka civil unrest) in the UK nearly every summer.

 

Hardly rare!

Now riots in the winter, they could be called rare.

Not many riots in Glasgow, rains too much

[MalcolmB]

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Back them, you could buy a house when earning a normal wage or easily get a council house and there were plenty of jobs for everyone .

   Its not easy like that these days 

Yes but the house didn’t need to have stone bench tops, Miele dishwashers, expensive flooring, and going out to eat expensive food etc etc 

 

Just laminex benchtops, a dishcloth and linoleum floors. 
 

People lived within their means. People today have high expectations and complain and are bitter if they are not met. 

 

Plus wasting money on Botox, hair removal, teeth whitening etc etc 
 

[Nick Carter icp]

19 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Yes but the house didn’t need to have stone bench tops, Miele dishwashers, expensive flooring, and going out to eat expensive food etc etc 

 

Just laminex benchtops, a dishcloth and linoleum floors. 
 

People lived within their means. People today have high expectations and complain and are bitter if they are not met. 

 

Plus wasting money on Botox, hair removal, teeth whitening etc etc 
 

 

   Its nothing to do with the inside of the house .

House prices have risen much higher than wages have risen .

   Previously the averaged waged worker could buy a home , these days its just the high earners who can buy a house 

[BritManToo]

49 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

People lived within their means. People today have high expectations and complain and are bitter if they are not met. 

Back in the 80s a house was 3x a years wages. Today that same house would be 15x a years wages.

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Back them, you could buy a house when earning a normal wage or easily get a council house and there were plenty of jobs for everyone .

   Its not easy like that these days 

These days are just as easy. For people willing to work and not feel entitled.

 

The problem is the list of items people think are essential has drastically increased, people think it's OK to only work 20 hours a week, people don't plan ahead before taking life changing decisions and people can't understand the difference between "want" and "need".

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

but the house didn’t need to have stone bench tops, Miele dishwashers, expensive flooring, and going out to eat expensive food etc etc 

Gracious, you have just described to a tee the electorate who propelled the Blessed Keir into Downing Street with a 174 seat majority and 34% of the vote.

 

And please, no jibes about Champagne Socialists! It is Prosecco or Cava in St Pancras and Holborn! Champagne is so Tory!

[nauseus]

 

There weren't no PCness, wokeness or snowflakery then. InnIt?

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Yes but the house didn’t need to have stone bench tops, Miele dishwashers, expensive flooring, and going out to eat expensive food etc etc 

 

Just laminex benchtops, a dishcloth and linoleum floors. 
 

People lived within their means. People today have high expectations and complain and are bitter if they are not met. 

 

Plus wasting money on Botox, hair removal, teeth whitening etc etc 
 

You forgot latte coffees, you can’t engage in a proper ill informed rant about why young folk can’t afford houses without mentioning latte coffees…. Oh and Netflix.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, youreavinalaff said:

These days are just as easy. For people willing to work and not feel entitled.

 

The problem is the list of items people think are essential has drastically increased, people think it's OK to only work 20 hours a week, people don't plan ahead before taking life changing decisions and people can't understand the difference between "want" and "need".

 

Your usual ‘I’m all right Jack hogwash’.

 

If it were easy home ownership figures for the young would be much higher than they are.

 

Without a substantial bung from parents or grandparents most young people can’t get near affording a home of their own these days.

 

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/housing-needs-of-young-people/

 

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/property-news/homeownership-rate-falls-among-young-people/

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, youreavinalaff said:

These days are just as easy. For people willing to work and not feel entitled.

 

The problem is the list of items people think are essential has drastically increased, people think it's OK to only work 20 hours a week, people don't plan ahead before taking life changing decisions and people can't understand the difference between "want" and "need".

 

   Its not, these days people cannot no longer afford to buy homes on regular wages .

   Pervious generations even people on small wages could afford to buy homes ,