Can Keir Starmer's Path Illuminate Kamala Harris’s Journey to Power?

[Social Media]

 

When Vice President Kamala Harris confidently declared, “you can always trust me to put country above party,” during a recent speech in Chicago, her words struck a chord not just in the United States but across the Atlantic in Britain. The sentiment echoed the rhetoric that Britain's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, employed throughout his successful bid to lead the Labour Party to power earlier this summer. This shared approach is more than a coincidence; it reflects deeper parallels between the two leaders—both former public prosecutors who transitioned into the political arena, each with a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

 

 

Starmer and Harris have both softened or moderated some of their earlier political stances as they seek to broaden the appeal of their respective parties. Starmer, now at the helm of Britain’s Labour Party, faced a volatile political environment shortly after his victory, marked by anti-immigrant riots triggered by a deadly knife attack at a children’s dance class. The incident, exacerbated by false claims spread by far-right groups that the assailant was a Muslim asylum seeker, tested Starmer’s ability to maintain law and order. In reality, the attacker was born in Britain to Rwandan Christian parents, a fact that underscored the dangerous misinformation that can fuel unrest.

 

Similarly, Harris may encounter significant challenges if she defeats former President Donald Trump in a close race, particularly if Trump or his supporters dispute the election results. “These are different countries with different political systems, but there often seem to be parallels in their political trajectories,” noted Steven Fielding, an emeritus professor of political history at the University of Nottingham, drawing attention to the similar paths these two leaders are navigating.

 

Labour's recent electoral victory in Britain has been closely studied by political strategists in the United States, particularly within the Democratic Party. Labour and the Democrats have a history of exchanging strategies, a tradition dating back to the era of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. At the Democratic National Convention, members of Starmer’s political brain trust, including Jonathan Ashworth, Morgan McSweeney, and Matthew Doyle, were in high demand, sharing insights from Labour’s successful campaign.

 

Ashworth, a close ally of Starmer and a former Labour member of Parliament, was part of the British delegation that provided key takeaways, emphasizing both the successes and the pitfalls Labour encountered.

 

Ashworth’s experience also served as a cautionary tale. He unexpectedly lost his seat due to backlash over Labour’s handling of the Gaza conflict, with critics arguing that the party was too slow in condemning the killing of Palestinian civilians. Drawing from his experience, Ashworth warned Democrats against complacency, particularly in light of the Gaza protests in Chicago, which, although not as disruptive as anticipated, still carried significant political implications. “The anger was not captured in the polling; it wasn’t really captured in my street campaigning until the last few days,” Ashworth explained, underscoring the importance of vigilance in the face of unexpected voter sentiment. “They’ve got to make sure people don’t stay home because of Gaza.”

 

On a more positive note, Ashworth observed similarities in how Starmer and Harris have addressed immigration, both emphasizing the importance of cracking down on criminal gangs that exploit and traffic migrants. Democratic pollster Geoff Garin, who advises Harris, pointed out that while there are common threads in voter behavior between the British and American elections, the strategies employed by Harris and Starmer have been organic to their respective campaigns. “The way Vice President Harris is meeting the moment is totally organic to her,” Garin said, “and I’m sure that is true of Prime Minister Starmer as well.”

 

The last time Britain and the United States appeared to be aligned in their political rhythms was in 2016 when the Brexit vote in June foreshadowed Trump’s election that November. This year, the calendar similarly aligns, with Britons going to the polls in July, just five months before the U.S. presidential election. However, until President Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race last month, the political outcomes in the two countries seemed to be diverging. Now, with Harris's swift rise, political analysts are speculating whether the left-of-center victory in Britain could signal a similar outcome in the United States.

 

There are, however, significant differences between the two political landscapes. Trump is polling neck and neck with Harris, both nationally and in several key swing states. In contrast, Labour held a consistent double-digit lead over the incumbent Conservative Party for 18 months before the British election. Starmer ran as a challenger against a deeply unpopular government, whereas Harris, though she represents the Biden administration, faces a polarizing challenger who has also served in the White House. Professor Fielding highlighted the contrast between Britain’s winner-takes-all system, which amplified Labour's majority, and America’s electoral college. “Harris could get a majority of the popular vote and still lose,” he noted, pointing to the complexities of the U.S. electoral system.

 

Despite the different mechanics of their political races, both Labour and the Democratic Party have resonated with similar themes. The “country above party” rhetoric is designed to challenge the traditional claim of Conservatives and Republicans to patriotism. Labour’s decision to open its conference in Liverpool last October by singing the national anthem, “God Save the King,” marked a significant moment in British politics, mirroring the patriotic display in Chicago where American flags dominated the scene, a spectacle typically associated with the GOP.

 

Both Starmer and Harris have also shown a willingness to shift their political stances. Starmer, who campaigned for the Labour leadership in 2020 on a more left-wing platform, adopted a more centrist approach during the recent election campaign. This included suspending Labour ministers who opposed his decision not to abolish a cap on child welfare payments. Similarly, Harris has toughened her stance on border policy and reversed her opposition to fracking as she seeks to appeal to a broader electorate. Both leaders have been cautious campaigners, steering clear of divisive issues. In Britain, this approach is known as the “Ming vase strategy,” a term coined to describe Tony Blair’s careful handling of his lead before the 1997 vote, likening him to a man carrying a priceless Ming vase across a highly polished floor.

 

However, there is no clear blueprint for Harris to counter Trump’s populist message, which bears similarities to the rhetoric of Nigel Farage and Britain’s hard-right Reform U.K. party. Reform U.K. garnered over four million votes, fueled by anti-immigrant sentiments, which in Britain culminated in violent riots. Observers are now questioning how Harris, given her background as a prosecutor, would handle post-election unrest, particularly if it mirrors the challenges faced by Starmer.

 

Encouraged by Starmer, British authorities responded to the riots with mass arrests, detaining over 1,000 individuals and charging more than 700. Harris, who shares Starmer’s left-of-center instincts, has positioned herself as a staunch defender of the rule of law, accusing Trump of inciting the January 6th insurrection and portraying him as a repeat lawbreaker.

 

“What if, instead of another Jan. 6, we have a series of right-wing riots around immigration?” pondered Harold Hongju Koh, a Yale Law School professor and former legal official in the Obama administration, who has also taught at Oxford. “It’s really about what Kamala Harris would do.”

 

As both Harris and Starmer navigate their respective political landscapes, the parallels in their journeys offer a fascinating glimpse into the challenges and strategies of modern leadership. Their shared backgrounds as prosecutors, coupled with their commitment to law and order, underscore the complex and often volatile nature of contemporary politics. Whether Harris can draw inspiration from Starmer’s recent victory remains to be seen, but their similar trajectories suggest that the lessons learned in one political arena may well resonate in another.

 

Credit: NYT 2024-08-28

 

 

 

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[thesetat2013]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

The sentiment echoed the rhetoric that Britain's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, employed throughout his successful bid to lead the Labour Party to power earlier this summer. This shared approach is more than a coincidence; it reflects deeper parallels between the two leaders—both former public prosecutors who transitioned into the political arena, each with a steadfast commitment to the rule of law.

What a crock! This comment made was done for effect simply because it worked elsewhere. The Dems never put anyone over the party. 

[JonnyF]

They have a lot in common.

 

Both are extreme leftists whose strategy to get elected is/was saying as little as possible about their beliefs and policies. Instead of saying what THEY believe, just trash the other side.

 

I hope the American people do not make the same mistake the British did. At least you guys have the first amendment in the event Harris wins, the Brits have no such luxury under Stalin, sorry I mean Starmer.  

[MarkBR]

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

They have a lot in common.

 

Both are extreme leftists whose strategy to get elected is/was saying as little as possible about their beliefs and policies. Instead of saying what THEY believe, just trash the other side.

 

I hope the American people do not make the same mistake the British did. At least you guys have the first amendment in the event Harris wins, the Brits have no such luxury under Stalin, sorry I mean Starmer.  

Starmer is not leftwing, he is Thatcher lite.

[Chomper Higgot]

39 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

They have a lot in common.

 

Both are extreme leftists whose strategy to get elected is/was saying as little as possible about their beliefs and policies. Instead of saying what THEY believe, just trash the other side.

 

I hope the American people do not make the same mistake the British did. At least you guys have the first amendment in the event Harris wins, the Brits have no such luxury under Stalin, sorry I mean Starmer.  

What they have in common is both the UK’s Labour Party and the Democrats face rightwing parties that have lost the plot wandering off  into rightwing extremism, culture wars, scapegoating immigrants and generally abandoning the political center ground.

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

35 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

Starmer is not leftwing, he is Thatcher lite.

Let’s see what the Autumn budget brings.

 

I very much doubt it will be anything the school milk snatcher would ever agree to.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s see what the Autumn budget brings.

 

I very much doubt it will be anything the school milk snatcher would ever agree to.

 

I wouldn't put anything past the OAP freezer. 

[Will B Good]

26 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

I wouldn't put anything past the OAP freezer. 

 

 

Got confused then....thought you were referring the Johnson hiding in a fridge to avoid the press.

[JonnyF]

30 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

Got confused then....thought you were referring the Johnson hiding in a fridge to avoid the press.

 

Nah, just more of Starmer's broken promises.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

 

I wouldn't put anything past the OAP freezer. 

Dubai is no longer PM, his policies of allowing energy customers to take in profits from millions of people choosing between heating and eating went with him.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Nah, just more of Starmer's broken promises.

 

Yes, don’t waste money giving winter fuel allowance to pensioners on incomes above the benefit threshold.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Dubai is no longer PM, his policies of allowing energy customers to take in profits from millions of people choosing between heating and eating went with him.

 

 

 

Dubai?? Is that some kind of racial slur against Sunak?

 

It is Starmer who has removed the heating allowance from pensioners, despite slamming the Tories when he thought they were going to do the same thing.

 

No wonder he is tanking in the polls.

 

https://unherd.com/newsroom/50-days-in-keir-starmers-popularity-has-slumped/

[JonnyF]

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Yes, don’t waste money giving winter fuel allowance to pensioners on incomes above the benefit threshold.

 

Given current energy prices, you don't have to be on benefits to struggle to afford staying warm in a British winter, especially if you are old and frail. 

 

But millionare Sir Keir wouldn't know, or give a toss about that. 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Dubai?? Is that some kind of racial slur against Sunak?

 

It is Starmer who has removed the heating allowance from pensioners, despite slamming the Tories when he thought they were going to do the same thing.

 

No wonder he is tanking in the polls.

 

https://unherd.com/newsroom/50-days-in-keir-starmers-popularity-has-slumped/

My Jonny, auto speller giving you a chance to be alright for once.

 

Obviously Sunak and his protecting windfall glorifies for energy companies at cost to consumers.

 

Means tested the heating allowance, those with the means don’t get it.

Edited August 28 by Chomper Higgot

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

My Jonny, auto speller giving you a chance to be alright for once.

 

My Jonny? I know you have a thing for me Chomps but that's wishful thinking by any standards. 

 

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Obviously Sunak and his protecting windfall glorifies for energy companies at cost to consumers.

 

What? Slow down. Proof read. 

 

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Means tested the heating allowance, those with the means don’t get it.

 

As already stated, many people who are not on benefits cannot afford to heat their homes. That's what it was for. OAP's will freeze to death due to this. Heat is vital for the elderly in a British winter. It's shameful from Starmer, especially after he criticized the Tories when he thought they were going to do it. 

[Luuk Chaai]

On 8/28/2024 at 8:02 AM, JonnyF said:

They have a lot in common.

 

Both are extreme leftists whose strategy to get elected is/was saying as little as possible about their beliefs and policies. Instead of saying what THEY believe, just trash the other side.

 

I hope the American people do not make the same mistake the British did. At least you guys have the first amendment in the event Harris wins, the Brits have no such luxury under Stalin, sorry I mean Starmer.  

 

[riclag]

Some political pundits in my country are using Starmer , as a example of why

not to vote for the far lefts choice, kharris. 
Below signifying a Train Wreck!imop

 

A survey carried out by More in Common found that the Prime Minister’s personal approval rating is now minus 16, a drop of 27 per cent since the general election.

 

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/starmers-poll-ratings-slump

Edited August 29 by riclag

[JonnyF]

10 hours ago, riclag said:

Some political pundits in my country are using Starmer , as a example of why

not to vote for the far lefts choice, kharris. 
Below signifying a Train Wreck!imop

 

A survey carried out by More in Common found that the Prime Minister’s personal approval rating is now minus 16, a drop of 27 per cent since the general election.

 

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/starmers-poll-ratings-slump

 

Yes, Musk is doing an excellent job on X of showing the world what a disaster this Starmer government is.

 

So much so that they want to extradite him to the UK and send him to the gulag 😃.

[JonnyF]

On 8/28/2024 at 8:09 AM, MarkBR said:

Starmer is not leftwing, he is Thatcher lite.

 

Thatchers Lite? Don't think that exists, there's Thatcher's gold though. A lovely drop of Cider, although I'd imagine he'll ban drinking soon, along with smoking in pub gardens.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/29/starmer-faces-pushback-from-pubs-over-bonkers-outdoor-smoking-curbs

 

Another day, another ban.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Thatchers Lite? Don't think that exists, there's Thatcher's gold though. A lovely drop of Cider, although I'd imagine he'll ban drinking soon, along with smoking in pub gardens.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/29/starmer-faces-pushback-from-pubs-over-bonkers-outdoor-smoking-curbs

 

Another day, another ban.

Actually another day for a ban that had already been passed in its first vote back in April:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68824493.amp