How Labour reacts to this is critical. These results show what happens if you try to share the stage with Farage instead of shoving him off it, cutting off his dodgy funding lines and telling a bolder, better, more progressive story like Carney has done.
My fear is that the further to the right the 'alternative' is, the more that they will take for granted the support of the left and position themselves on the right, on a 'vote for us or get Farage' platform - rather than offering any positive vision for progressives to vote for them.
Just to add to this - this has an effect on the wider public debate. As with the US election, just being 'not them' leads to the you're thick/racist/nazi for voting for 'them' level of discussion - and while it may be bloody true, it doesn't win people over. People need a positive argument to make
I'd pay to watch Farage have TB.
If I am waiting for a bus with no shelter or protection, it's pissing down, I'd not huddle under an umbrella with him if he paid me.
Piss up his leg
Well said. Spot on.
Not change of boldness with Timid Timothy in charge of Labour !
What's that? You want more benefit cuts? No problem!
This^ Especially since it fits in with Starmer's "decade of renewal". Renew the UK by correcting the divisions and unfairness that has kneecapped this country for the last 15 years with shit like Brexit and the gutting of social services.
Like Constantly focus on the stuff you're doing to improve the UK and make costs go down (even if there may be a big cost upfront at first) while also going on the attack and exposing all the shit Farage and the Tories did that have fucked the country up?
I feel they are like rabbits in the headlights …. Terrified to breach their damn red lines . Can’t or won’t regroup & rethink ; but they can’t keep ignoring the mood in the country . I couldn’t be more angry with Starmer & Reeves & their cold corporatism. Where’s the passion ?
Just like Blair, he made a deal with whoever it is that controls everything we see and hear, and now he is beholden to them. It’s a fine line he has to walk!
bsky.app/profile/lizw...
Absolutely. It’s pointless trying to out-populist Farage, voters who like the brand want the real deal, not a copy. I despair at Lab timidity re Brexit & loathe the approach on the poor, disabled & migrants. I’m no ideologue, but I want to vote for s/o with a +ve plan, compassion & a moral compass.
There are many straight forward things they can do. Election reform as you've suggested. Be more positive with the EU. Drop their poor welfare reforms Adjust farm IHT Do something about utility costs. Improve funding for local government and adjust council tax Just a few simple things could help
Absolutely that. Is this finally the light bulb moment for them? Sadly I remain dubious, but we can but hope.
Labour needs to believe in the majority opinions of the population and not some “focus group” inevitably tainted by a right leaning media. They need to improve and enrich the whole country and participate in a “who can lick the sewer the longest” competition
Obviously that is a NOT missing Not participate !
They also need to reflect that the will of the people can and does shift. (They know this already as different parties win general elections) Opinion moves with global events, younger folk entering the electorate and older people leaving it
See Germany - regarding the AfD. UK media/other parties should call out Reform for what they are. bsky.app/profile/terr... #NotGoingToHappen #FascinationWithFarRight
Less timidity from Starmer. Protecting the weak, making the BBC an honest broadcaster again. Oppose Reform and stop trying to emulate it to appeal to a minority of voters.
Starmer is already doubling down with the same recycled & reconstituted cut & paste claptrap. Labour are set to ignore any lessons, carry on with "make Brexit work" idiocy & the pledges to slaughter the disabled & vulnerable communities & minorities. UK is f1ck1d.....
Start by sorting out the BBC and funding from outside of the UK. Also Labour comms are woeful on an uneven playing field.
Comms have been awful since day one. Even before. Stop talking about the "Black Hole", say "awful economic legacy." Have a bully like Alastair Campbell come back and force the (many, many) good news stories into the media. We've had years of headline-chasing populist politics.
I believe people voted for Labour because they wanted 'proper' Government, of the people and for the people, not for the headlines and photo-ops. But none of us can resist staring at a motorway pile up. 1,000 rolling news outlets want content, they want clicks, they want clickable stories.
So give them a weekly news conference, with pushy social media comms, saying "this is what we've achieved this week." Starmer isn't scoring points for taking over steel works, protecting jobs, investing here there and everywhere for people. He's not even scoring points for international diplomacy.
The message isn't getting out there. Disaffected Labour voters are looking elsewhere to avoid the doom and gloom. There is tremendous hope and optimism, and Labour needs a Big Best Comms team to get the news out there. Currently, they're failing.
Have British media run by people who pay taxes on the mainland UK too!
& Leveson 2
His 'diplomacy' is to be over-diplomatic to Trump and his band of fascists. And thus he won't attack Farage's Trumpism.
He's playing it careful right now. He's carefully redeveloping relationships with our closest neighbour, yet treating Trump carefully - knowing what a spat with him could be disastrous.
I admire your optimism!
🤣Always! 👍 I do think he's playing the long game. Elections are in 4 years. Bad news is fleeting, and he's hoping that the better news will come later in the parliament, and voting population will be less interested in following protest parties.
Gerald agree with most. The Black Hole has not been developed enough? Money for mates, Free Ports being a cash cow for Tory donors, Tory VIP PPE pipeline. Need to stress its all our money and its gone.
Get rid of Chris Mason!
I have a list a bit longer than that. My starting point would be to get rid of the idea of balance in political debate. Its lazy and/or ignorant. They should be seeking the truth and telling people that. Not this ill informed dogs dinner.
We are lucky if both sides are allowed to make their case these days. We are lucky if politicians’ falsehoods are challenged. The BBC in particular has a remit to educate and inform. They are failing at that.
Totally.
They need to attack, frankly
Labour remains stoic. Not what we voted for at all.
Let me get this straight: Starmer won't be progressive, won't fight inequality, won’t touch Brexit, and still can’t pull ahead in the polls? If triangulation isn’t working, why keep doubling down?
True, true, true, true and true. (Also admirably concise!)
Absolutely right
Indeed. And Carney has more to lose given the enormous wrench of pivoting away from the US. His campaign was upbeat and touched on things that people need. But - the British press would never let Labour do this.
