Column, on a grimly familiar Farage plot line and Starmer sticking to the script in the Brexit sequel. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Replies
The public strongly supports closer relationship with the EU. The SBiT and ABTA YouGov poll from this weekend shows that clearly with a whopping 76% supporting a Youth Mobility Scheme bsky.app/profile/char...
aug 27, 2025, 10:38 am • 19 6 • view
1: Stop showing his picture 2: Stop reporting his fascists rhetoric 3: Reform the press esp the BBC to remove the Tory appointed far right propagandists from the news/politics side. Labour must see this, esp need for press reform but everythign they do and fail to do suggests complicity.
aug 27, 2025, 9:37 am • 0 0 • view
We need our own Gavin Newsom of the left
aug 27, 2025, 6:57 am • 1 0 • view
And now, not after Farage is elected.
aug 27, 2025, 7:31 am • 1 0 • view
No, we absolutely do not need a transphobe who destroys homeless people's possessions for a photo op while not actually tackling the causes of homelessness. We need a Newsom even less than the USA does.
aug 27, 2025, 7:04 am • 1 0 • view
Great article @rafaelbehr.bsky.social. I had a go at this topic myself a while ago for @northeastbylines.co.uk The truth would see off the threat of Farage and allow labour to go back to its roots - helping those in need. #Brexit #farage #labour northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...
aug 28, 2025, 7:55 pm • 1 0 • view
This 👆 goes to the heart of Starmer's problem. Because any effective narrative against the far-right is destroyed by Blue Labour's support for Brexit. Economy: Damaged by Brexit. Growth: Damaged by Brexit. NHS: Damaged by Brexit. Culture: Damaged by Brexit. The National Character: Damaged by Brexit.
aug 27, 2025, 7:22 am • 38 5 • view
And some politicians backing far-right calls is part of the problem, too bsky.app/profile/fina...
aug 27, 2025, 11:39 am • 2 0 • view
Very disappointing.
aug 27, 2025, 9:12 pm • 3 0 • view
These bloomin old New Labour tsars like him & Blunkett should clear off now. Sadly doing Tory/Farage work for them🤬
aug 27, 2025, 9:26 pm • 2 0 • view
Straw, like Blunkett, always was a hard right authoritarian who was in the wrong party.
aug 27, 2025, 5:04 pm • 1 0 • view
It was not blue labours support. Jeremy Corbyn could not ever be described as blue Labour. I'm not anti his policies, but his refusal to fight Brexit untill it was far too late and even then half heartedly caused serious damage. Blairites were most certainly pro Europe
aug 27, 2025, 9:17 am • 8 1 • view
Blue Labour and Corbyn's momentum both supported Brexit. They were an inner-Labour horseshoe that ignored the majority between them.
aug 27, 2025, 5:14 pm • 1 0 • view
Who do you think backed leave in the campaign? Do you think Kate hoey and Frank field are the right is the party?
aug 27, 2025, 9:29 pm • 1 0 • view
It's not rocket science, friend. The far left and the far right of the Labour party both embraced Brexit. Blue Labour and Momentum. The Labour Leave group and Glasman's cronies.
aug 27, 2025, 9:36 pm • 5 0 • view
Jezza made more appearances for the No campaign than any politician except for the PM and the Chancellor.
aug 29, 2025, 8:48 pm • 0 0 • view
They were not as pro Europe as they were anti-Corbyn. Some of them jumped firmly onto the “must now deliver Brexit” camp and attacked Corbyn for not wholeheartedly supporting it, while others attacked him for not wholeheartedly opposing it.
aug 27, 2025, 5:03 pm • 1 0 • view
Come 2019 and they united in deciding that they preferred a Johnson majority and a hard Brexit to a Labour government led by Corbyn. They were never worried he would fail. They were terrified he would succeed.
aug 27, 2025, 5:03 pm • 1 0 • view
Although, frankly, I do not believe that 'national character' exists. Ppl are not a hive-mind.
aug 27, 2025, 10:35 am • 0 0 • view
Exactly. However, I suspect McSweeney won't allow Starmer to even mention the "B" word - he's desperate to win back a few red wall racists. It's a crazy strategy that only makes space for Farage that he'll ruthlessly exploit. Wake up Labour!
aug 27, 2025, 7:45 am • 19 2 • view
Yes. And in the meantime, Labour is haemorrhaging votes to the pro-EU Greens and LibDems.
aug 27, 2025, 10:45 am • 7 0 • view
This is the only reason I decided not to vote Labour last year, and why I probably won’t next time, unless they do wake up…
aug 27, 2025, 9:57 am • 3 0 • view
Whilst the party is lead by McSweeney I don't suppose there'll be any change from the Brexit-Ultra position.
aug 27, 2025, 10:08 am • 3 1 • view
"But are we really going to spend the next four years watching Farage leaf casually through the familiar playbook, running the same campaign to the fawning applause of the same courtier commentariat?" Yes. The blackshirt newsmedia are all on board another bus hosting more lies, driven by Farage.
aug 27, 2025, 8:09 am • 0 0 • view
You wonder why KS doesn't just appoint the toad as Chief Policy Adviser. Then again, if he'll do the job for free...
aug 27, 2025, 12:14 pm • 0 0 • view
Farage’s mass deportation plan isn’t just theatre—it takes Britain down dark roads already travelled by Trump’s America. A warning for our democracy: Please read, share and subscribe www.plagueisland.com/p/britains-d...
aug 27, 2025, 8:35 pm • 0 0 • view
Good article, Rafael. Starmer should indeed be more critical of Brexit and not let Farage off the hook.
aug 28, 2025, 10:34 am • 0 0 • view
Great article. Thanks.
aug 27, 2025, 5:15 pm • 1 0 • view
And there you are. Another media exposure for Forage. 🤦🏽 what’s this obsession with that amoeba?
aug 27, 2025, 8:24 am • 0 0 • view
Great article Raf. I wish you were doing comms in number 10.
aug 27, 2025, 9:32 am • 0 0 • view
Does Labour have an inspirational leader who would do this or are they all pathetic shills?
aug 27, 2025, 7:43 am • 0 0 • view
Re: complaints of two tier justice. Their actual complaint is the courts _don't_ operate a two tier system. They want to be able to treat some people worse and are annoyed the courts treat everybody the same. But, to paraphrase Orwell, they see equality as bias, and bias as equality.
aug 27, 2025, 9:30 am • 1 0 • view
Your anger is more useful than my despair; the use of the informal term for Brexit in the last paragraph is an interesting literary effect in that it conveys to the reader how much controlled anger there has been throughout the column. Well said.
aug 27, 2025, 8:32 am • 19 0 • view
I studied 20th C history. I'm not making any direct link (I am really) and am absolutely not making predictions ... but I am struck by this thought ... For the people under the fascist regimes of the 1930s/40s in what are now 3 huge economies to see the light, they had to see the fire.
aug 27, 2025, 8:49 am • 2 0 • view
Starmer- a man without vision, a man without spine and (as is increasingly evident) a man without scruples. He needs to stand up and lead.
aug 27, 2025, 9:45 am • 0 0 • view
We need to stop this fascist in his tracks. We need to do it soon.
aug 27, 2025, 7:51 am • 0 0 • view
📌
aug 27, 2025, 11:36 am • 0 0 • view
Plan A not working for Starmer, so he might as well catch up with the electorate and get closer to the EU. Might even improve his polling numbers.
aug 27, 2025, 3:25 pm • 2 0 • view
Why would Starmer challenge Farage when he agrees with everything he says?
aug 27, 2025, 9:03 am • 0 0 • view
Excellent article. On a different topic: why do you think so many pro Labour voices on this platform are not capable to demand for Starmer to do the right thing?
aug 27, 2025, 8:25 am • 0 0 • view
I wonder whether Labour would have any success pinning the doubling in migration on Farage's Brexit policy, with the aim of discrediting him. I think at the moment the Faragists blame the Tories for the migration rather than Farage, so it oculd be an uphill battle.
aug 27, 2025, 6:52 am • 1 0 • view
What an upside down place this is when most MSM pretend that the arsonist who broke Britain is somehow also the fire brigade. There were no small boats before Brexit, Tories closed safe routes for asylum seekers. Other countries take in more refugees than Britain. We need immigrants to work here..
aug 27, 2025, 8:38 am • 0 0 • view
It isn't 'illegal' to claim asylum. Refugees need help and support. We are all immigrants, or descendants of immigrants. What a good place this world could be if only extremely rich, greedy right wing people and their propaganda media outlets were not permitted to spread divisive views. Biased MSM
aug 27, 2025, 8:40 am • 0 0 • view
But Starmer is terrified of upsetting the little Englanders. That closed mind subset who think Brexit is great, foreigners are to blame for all England's ills & that Britiain could be great again, if only we reopened the coal mines!?!
aug 27, 2025, 7:10 am • 2 0 • view
Keir Starmer has turned out to be a massive disappointment. Up against forces within the UK that do not mean it well. Starmer brings a penknife to a gunfight. What Labour needs is a conviction politician at the helm.
aug 27, 2025, 8:13 am • 1 0 • view
It underpins the dishonesty of Labour’s position. Austerity created the launchpad for Brexit. Farage ruthlessly but cleverly used it to feed the lie that Brexit was the answer. Now Starmer continues the ‘let’s pretend’ narrative.
aug 27, 2025, 6:59 am • 1 0 • view
Really excellent Rafael 👍 Politicians & media make much of the unworkable lunacy in Farage’s proposals but no emphasis is put on his ultimate intent, as with Trump, power & money Farage & #Refuk avoid ANY uncomfortable discourse on their #brexit 💩 & should instead be pilloried at every opportunity
aug 27, 2025, 6:40 am • 3 1 • view
Starmer carries the blame here but he needs to ditch the Blue Labour stuff and knock the Lord Glasman down a peg or two…
aug 27, 2025, 8:15 am • 6 0 • view
Amen 🙏
aug 27, 2025, 8:24 am • 2 0 • view
So well said.
aug 27, 2025, 10:17 am • 1 0 • view
Thank you for the article- almost got to the end before it was still !! all Keir Starmer's fault - well that what the headline implies. It was great to see the blame being stuck to Farage for most of the piece, but the headline is peak @theguardian.com .
aug 27, 2025, 7:40 am • 6 0 • view
No, I agree with this. Pointing out Farage’s past record is a definite ‘Starmer should’
aug 27, 2025, 8:39 am • 3 0 • view
I'm looking forward to PMQs when the honourable member for Clacton is elsewhere and has the piss ripped out of him. I'm guessing the PM will contribute to that.
aug 27, 2025, 9:26 am • 5 0 • view
Why does Farage need to be their? Starmer will push through his policies regardless.
aug 27, 2025, 11:40 am • 1 0 • view
bsky.app/profile/mimi...
aug 27, 2025, 3:04 pm • 1 0 • view
We need a national conversation about a better Britain. I began in Somerset, but it needs to spread. See brexitrage.com/a-better-bri... Brexit is Farage's achilles' heel. We must move the Overton Window back into place. See our YouTube film on the matter. #Brexit #FarageRiots #RejoinEU
aug 27, 2025, 6:52 am • 7 4 • view
My modest proposal is that, to save the Tory Party, they should renounce Brexit by admitting that it was a mistake, and re-find their one-time pro-business pragmatic soul. At this stage, what have they got to lose?
aug 27, 2025, 6:51 am • 6 0 • view
Foolish Starmer. Be real.
aug 27, 2025, 8:39 am • 0 0 • view
That probably good for some fickle voters who think of economic criteria. Maybe it would be enough. Nevertheless, Brexit was nowhere before anti-continental xenophobia was leveraged. Now it’s done and the same voters want their racism served, even knowing about the economic disadvantages of Brexit.
aug 27, 2025, 8:34 am • 0 0 • view
It's a strange world where I can get arrested for wearing a Palestinian action tshirt or flag a group never linked to terror attacks on the uk, but politicians can promise to give money to terrorists groups that have killed uk citizens and get away with no penalty .
aug 27, 2025, 8:42 am • 2 0 • view
Really excellent column. Thank you. So “on the money” it took my breath away. We underestimate Farage at our peril.
aug 27, 2025, 7:37 am • 7 0 • view
An absolutely brilliant column. You have managed to hit so many nails squarely on the head.
aug 27, 2025, 10:46 am • 3 0 • view
Thank you.
aug 27, 2025, 10:46 am • 1 0 • view
Starmer's moral cowardice and/or corruption by 'Blue(shirt) Labour' will destroy him & the party. WTF is wrong with him? Has he been bought, or was he just always a cowardly shapeshifter?
aug 27, 2025, 10:37 am • 1 0 • view
Well said!
aug 28, 2025, 10:37 am • 0 0 • view
Brexit caused immigration crisis but 🤫 shhhh
aug 27, 2025, 7:12 am • 1 0 • view
Another pussy footing around article discussing Reform’s evil plans which encourages a pile on against the PM. How about coming out with all guns blazing *against* Farage & his whacky unworkable thought farts.
aug 27, 2025, 8:37 am • 0 0 • view
Political commentators on the progressive wing deliberately ignore the #libdems who continually slam #Farage #Starmer may be AWOL but @eddavey.libdems.org.uk and @libdemdaisy.bsky.social are definitely not! @adambienkov.bsky.social @jessicaelgot.bsky.social @paulbrand.bsky.social
aug 27, 2025, 7:46 am • 4 2 • view
TBF, the Greens are also pulling no punches when it comes to Farage, but the media are largely ignoring the party. Polanski won't change that.
aug 28, 2025, 10:39 am • 1 0 • view
Electorally Labour and the Lib Dems are much closer and willing and able to work together. Tories and Reform could never achieve that. The politics of Reform are too extreme for the majority. This is why a single issue GE works for the left. Re-litigation of Brexit is the way to win next time.
aug 27, 2025, 6:52 am • 0 0 • view
In the last GE re-litigating Brexit made no sense as the Tories could build a winning cohort of still convinced Brexit supporters. With the right split between Reform and Tory, and importantly the pro Brexit vote now the minority, Labour (and Lib Dem) could win next time on a Rejoin agenda.
aug 27, 2025, 6:48 am • 0 0 • view
Where's your evidence that Tories could still have won by unifying Brexiteers? Coz I see this narrative a lot but I've seen 0 evidence for it in terms of polling etc. happy to see some evidence
aug 27, 2025, 6:52 am • 0 0 • view
NF is the architect of brexit and is high in the polls. Not sure the pro-brexit side is the minority. People may not see this as the main issue. Hence the need for a bit of truth about the damages caused before going down the SM/CM talk.
aug 27, 2025, 8:33 am • 0 0 • view
I asked for evidence not opinion
aug 27, 2025, 8:45 am • 0 0 • view
It’s irrelevant - my point was that was the prevailing wisdom (and I think it’s correct) but it’s no longer true. A Brexit rerun would destroy Farage
aug 27, 2025, 9:58 pm • 0 0 • view
Not sure the pro Brexit side is in the minority? It was 52/48 Look at polling Look at net migration Look at the £40bn You may not be sure but you have scant reason to deny the polls that say people have turned against Brexit.
aug 27, 2025, 10:25 pm • 0 0 • view
the whole problem is a function of FPTP FPTP is why 30% of the popular vote can win 80 seat majorities. That is why Labour, Tories and Reform all appeal to the median authoritarian voter.
aug 27, 2025, 11:07 am • 6 1 • view
But Labour ruled out electoral reform on the grounds that "they didn't have the time". In fact it was the last chance for the UK to course-correct from its tail-spin.
aug 27, 2025, 11:11 am • 4 1 • view
Of course they have the time. It's a single line bill; "The next UK election will be carried out under the system already in operation in Scotland and provided for in existing UK law"
aug 27, 2025, 11:45 am • 2 0 • view
exactly - their excuse is a lie. In fact they've spent much of the last year wondering what their policies should be. There's been loads of time already.
aug 27, 2025, 11:47 am • 2 0 • view
More than a year...obvious pre- election that planning for cheap (which this is) policies to underline the word #change should have been at the forefront of showing to people that they were in actuality causing change (politics is the art of underlining the message)
aug 27, 2025, 12:53 pm • 1 0 • view
Labour would rather come second (be the official opposition) and condemn the UK to decline than enact electoral reform and risk being an equal peer with other parties.
aug 27, 2025, 11:48 am • 2 0 • view
This exactly. They want their occasional turn in absolute power. They need to talk to the other parties and have an actual constitutional convention.
aug 27, 2025, 11:55 am • 2 0 • view
They just changed (back) to supplementary vote for Mayors so why not MPs?
aug 27, 2025, 12:47 pm • 1 0 • view
Brexit=economic downturn, GDP cost, lack of growth and IMMIGRATION should be thrown at him by everyone including all media outlets. Everyone should also highlight what being part of ECHR provides for all citizens. Farage will take away your RIGHTS can’t be said often enough.
aug 27, 2025, 7:59 am • 2 0 • view
Too much the media just parrots Farages aims and then expect the other parties to match them but with a more efficient method. They should be calling out Farage as a lunatic who wants to strip the country to the bone.
aug 27, 2025, 9:06 am • 3 1 • view
bsky.app/profile/mimi...
aug 27, 2025, 3:03 pm • 1 0 • view
"But are we really going to spend the next four years watching Farage leaf casually through the familiar playbook, running the same campaign to the fawning applause of the same courtier commentariat?" Well, the press and media are already ensuring wall to wall coverage, jackboots marching in sync...
aug 27, 2025, 7:37 am • 3 1 • view
Farage's press chums are already treating him as PM. They care not for the country. As far as they are concerned, the NHS can go, our human rights can be ditched, climate measures binned, European allies deserted, unelected cronies into stuffed into Farage's cabinet. He is no threat to billionaires.
aug 27, 2025, 8:29 am • 1 0 • view
The media have a lot to answer for with the relentless platforming of Farage. So much for an independent press.
aug 27, 2025, 6:46 am • 4 0 • view
I am slightly bewildered as to why the sensibles who were thrown out of the Tory party in 2019 haven't formed a pro-Europe, pro-business party of their own, and forced the remaining dregs of the Tory party back to reality by nicking their remaining handful of voters.
aug 27, 2025, 11:43 am • 1 0 • view
Good point, David Gauke Dominic Reeves etc. Maybe they're happy to keep their distance from the toxic bunch for the time being.
aug 27, 2025, 3:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Good thinking Rafael, it’ll definitely see off Farage if the PM tries to rejoin the single market, there’s no way that would completely backfire.
aug 27, 2025, 7:46 am • 0 0 • view
Starmer could ask Fagash why he's still here given that the Reform Fuhrer promised to leave the country if brexit were a failure. Well, he could if he joined with Fagash in admitting that brexit is a rotten failure. Seems an obvious ploy to me.
aug 27, 2025, 6:42 am • 3 0 • view
It's McSweeney's policy of shoving the Overton window to the far right that has made space for Farage to thrive. The economic stagnation caused by Brexit red lines and anti-business policy will be ruthlessly exploited by Farage on his march to no. 10. Why can't Labour people see the risk?
aug 27, 2025, 7:38 am • 0 0 • view
Exactly this “We tried listening to him. His probity and judgment were sold as the product called Brexit. It turned out to be a piece of shit. Enough people already know this is the truth, but it would be liberating to hear it from the prime minister”
aug 27, 2025, 8:56 am • 2 0 • view
If it's too difficult politically for Starmer to do it himself why doesn't he let the 'powerful' pro-EU back bench group off the leash as a stalking horse? Let them make the case. And why are the Lib Dems not ruthlessly exploiting this more? Is there reluctance in the media to platform a challenge?
aug 27, 2025, 8:29 am • 6 1 • view
If Starmer is unwilling or unable to support the people who voted for him he should step aside....now.
aug 27, 2025, 2:08 pm • 0 0 • view
But then they’d have to do something about it, and they clearly don’t want to.
aug 27, 2025, 8:49 am • 0 0 • view
Is it time for Farage's opponents to acknowledge that diverse arguments about human rights, implementation costs, workability, sustainability, international standing, and fascism haven't worked because they're knocked away by the dogma that we'll be better off without immigrants?
aug 27, 2025, 10:57 am • 1 0 • view
Great piece. Spot on. Hope Starmer ready it and takes notice.
aug 27, 2025, 6:49 am • 1 0 • view
You are so right here, Rafael. If Labour wants to remain in power, it really has to call out Farage's Brexit for the bullshit it is. Brexit created the opportunity for the massive increase in migration, not the ECHR. Why don't we rejoin the Dublin Accords (part of the EU) at the very least?
aug 27, 2025, 12:52 pm • 2 0 • view
By far the most salient and intuitive article on Reform and Farridge in the last 10 years 👏
aug 27, 2025, 8:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Can’t face reading it but I will. Starmer has turned, by his timidity, political tin-ear and limp emulation of Fagash, into Reform’s greatest asset. Not by recruitment to Reform but by desertions from Labour. They set a route for the now inevitable car-crash the day after the election.
aug 27, 2025, 6:37 am • 8 1 • view
I'm thoroughly sick of Farage setting the agenda virtually unchallenged. Enough is more than enough.
aug 27, 2025, 6:34 am • 26 1 • view
The media love him because he's good on TV. The other parties have the most boring leaders who seem to hate media appearances or are hopeless when they do appear. In our attention economy it'll take much more charismatic leaders, with a clear story to displace Farage.
aug 27, 2025, 7:42 am • 6 1 • view
I hope Polanski gets Green leadership.
aug 27, 2025, 10:37 am • 2 0 • view
He seems pretty much our only hope right now. I wish there were more people taking the fight to the right, but for now it is just him among political leaders.
aug 27, 2025, 4:56 pm • 2 0 • view
The media love him because BBC news and editorial content controllers and the Paper Owners / Paul Marshall are politically active agents for US Big Oil / Climate denialist / Christo Fascist billionaire funders of Heritage / Trump / Project 2025 people; currently destroying America for personal gain.
aug 28, 2025, 10:29 am • 1 0 • view
My exact thoughts wrapped in an exceptionally well-written and hugely quotable article: thanks for writing it @rafaelbehr.bsky.social
aug 27, 2025, 1:38 pm • 2 0 • view
Thank you!
aug 27, 2025, 2:44 pm • 1 0 • view
Thank you. I'm so angry with Starmer and his cowardice 😠
aug 27, 2025, 7:04 am • 6 0 • view
Yesterday. bsky.app/profile/grum...
aug 27, 2025, 8:36 am • 0 0 • view
Starmer may be on holiday given he was visible in US etc up to a week ago but yes other ministers should have been out there yesterday hitting hard
aug 27, 2025, 7:09 am • 2 0 • view
bsky.app/profile/grum...
aug 27, 2025, 8:36 am • 1 1 • view