Jun 19, 2024 06:43 PM
Starmer will be an outlier if he triumphs next month - the right is on the rise
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/europe-labou...st-3120650
EXCERPTS: Expect a great deal of buzz to greet him on the world stage. Even before the election, Conservative ministers were having to get used to entering a room only to find the crowd being drawn to their opposite Labour number.
International leaders struggling back at home will no doubt like to attach themselves to a story of success in a bid to suggest that they themselves are part of an upward trend. While Starmer’s approval rating is in the negative, a majority of 150+ would lead most to assume he will be in power for at least a decade.
It means that Keir Starmer ought to have the space to make some big decisions early on. [...] But the general suggestion is that a Labour government would improve relations [with the EU] and the mood – therefore unlocking a host of options.
The argument goes that they would be the so-called “grown ups in the room” compared with the dogmatic Tories who came before. As Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar recently put it: “What they’re asking for is to commit to change the relationship, to reset the relationship – and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Only there’s a glitch or two. First, speak to a Brussels diplomat and they will be quick to tell you that the continent has moved on since the Brexit days. Brexit UK officials no longer meet their EU counterparts on a regular basis – they don’t really know one other. The general sense is they have bigger fish to fry – though could perhaps be tempted to reopen agreements if there are enough concessions on offer.
It means for all of Starmer’s capital if he wins big, he will face a European Union that has changed since the Brexit years and has enough of its own problems to focus on before returning to that era.
As for how today’s Brussels looks, it is a far cry from the Europe that David Cameron negotiated with. As this month’s European Parliament elections showed, Starmer will be an outlier if he triumphs in the UK election next month. The right is on the rise – and the social democrat politicians in power that Labour can find the most in common with could find, like Sunak, that their time is up when national elections come around.
[...] The only upside for Starmer is that those on the right are likely to be less obsessed with EU institutions than the mainstream parties. They may be less opposed to the type of flexible arrangements Starmer and his team would like as they try to reshape the Brexit deal. Both the UK and Europe are in a period of change – the prize awaits the leader who is able to bend it to their will... (MORE - details)
Just Stop Oil condemned by Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer after Stonehenge protest
https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41419735.html
INTRO: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were united in condemnation of Just Stop Oil after activists targeted Stonehenge with orange powder paint. The UK prime minister described it as a “disgraceful act of vandalism” while the Labour leader branded the group “pathetic”.
Members tried to intervene, struggling with the campaigners – named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21 – as they ran up to the ancient monument on Wednesday. Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint.
Mr Sunak said: “This is a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments.”
[...] Mr Starmer said: “The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop Oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.” (MORE - details)
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/europe-labou...st-3120650
EXCERPTS: Expect a great deal of buzz to greet him on the world stage. Even before the election, Conservative ministers were having to get used to entering a room only to find the crowd being drawn to their opposite Labour number.
International leaders struggling back at home will no doubt like to attach themselves to a story of success in a bid to suggest that they themselves are part of an upward trend. While Starmer’s approval rating is in the negative, a majority of 150+ would lead most to assume he will be in power for at least a decade.
It means that Keir Starmer ought to have the space to make some big decisions early on. [...] But the general suggestion is that a Labour government would improve relations [with the EU] and the mood – therefore unlocking a host of options.
The argument goes that they would be the so-called “grown ups in the room” compared with the dogmatic Tories who came before. As Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar recently put it: “What they’re asking for is to commit to change the relationship, to reset the relationship – and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Only there’s a glitch or two. First, speak to a Brussels diplomat and they will be quick to tell you that the continent has moved on since the Brexit days. Brexit UK officials no longer meet their EU counterparts on a regular basis – they don’t really know one other. The general sense is they have bigger fish to fry – though could perhaps be tempted to reopen agreements if there are enough concessions on offer.
It means for all of Starmer’s capital if he wins big, he will face a European Union that has changed since the Brexit years and has enough of its own problems to focus on before returning to that era.
As for how today’s Brussels looks, it is a far cry from the Europe that David Cameron negotiated with. As this month’s European Parliament elections showed, Starmer will be an outlier if he triumphs in the UK election next month. The right is on the rise – and the social democrat politicians in power that Labour can find the most in common with could find, like Sunak, that their time is up when national elections come around.
[...] The only upside for Starmer is that those on the right are likely to be less obsessed with EU institutions than the mainstream parties. They may be less opposed to the type of flexible arrangements Starmer and his team would like as they try to reshape the Brexit deal. Both the UK and Europe are in a period of change – the prize awaits the leader who is able to bend it to their will... (MORE - details)
Just Stop Oil condemned by Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer after Stonehenge protest
https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-41419735.html
INTRO: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were united in condemnation of Just Stop Oil after activists targeted Stonehenge with orange powder paint. The UK prime minister described it as a “disgraceful act of vandalism” while the Labour leader branded the group “pathetic”.
Members tried to intervene, struggling with the campaigners – named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21 – as they ran up to the ancient monument on Wednesday. Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint.
Mr Sunak said: “This is a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments.”
[...] Mr Starmer said: “The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop Oil are pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.” (MORE - details)
