Will the real Keir Starmer please stand up

Will the real Keir Starmer please stand up

Oct 9, 2024 | Bylines, News

In 2020 Starmer outlined a strong case for EU membership, for migration, and for the benefits of mutual freedom of movement – so what’s changed? Bremain Chair Sue Wilson MBE writes for Yorkshire Bylines. 

After 14 years of Tory incompetence, corruption and narcissism, the dawn of a new government this summer was a welcome and overdue relief. Having watched Keir Starmer grow in confidence and gravitas as leader of the opposition, I was delighted when Labour won the election and filled with hope for the future.

I always believed Starmer to be intelligent, principled and open-minded, and was looking forward to his much-publicised programme of ‘change’ and ‘growth’. Surely that would mean the abandonment of Tory austerity, a softer approach towards undocumented immigration and a return to socialist principles.

So far sadly, I haven’t seen any evidence to suggest my earlier optimism was entirely justified.

Achievements worthy of note

Whilst I can’t help but feel disappointed at some of Labour’s early decisions or policies, there is plenty to commend them for, in what is still a relatively short space of time. The early abandonment of the inhumane and costly Rwanda policy was most welcome, as was the swift and effective handling of the race riots.

A number of new bills have been put forward which will no doubt make a huge difference to the people of Britain, assuming, of course, they are passed into law. With Labour’s huge majority, that seems pretty likely. A few bills worthy of note are: renters’ rights, water (special measures), passenger railway services (public ownership) and Great British Energy. Other achievements include the settling of public pay disputes and the commencement of the Covid Corruption Enquiry.

An impressive list, all of which may positively influence Labour’s popularity further down the line, when the results of these efforts can be seen. But, right now, the prime minister, and the Labour Party, are suffering in the polls. As far as the public is concerned, the honeymoon period is over.

Starmer less popular than Sunak

In a poll conducted by Opinium for the Observer before the Labour Party conference, Starmer “has suffered a precipitous fall in his personal ratings since winning the election”. The PM’s personal approval rating plunged below that of former PM Rishi Sunak, dropping by 45 points since July. With 50% of voters disapproving of the job he is doing, and only 24% approving, his net rating is now -26%. Starmer’s fall in popularity has been echoed by a 36% drop in the approval rating of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and a reduction in approval ratings for other senior cabinet figures.

While the public still consider the Tory government most to blame for the challenges the new government is facing, almost half of the public (45%) hold a more negative view of Starmer and Labour since they came into office. Labour may still be ahead of the Tories in the polls on most issues, but on the economy, their 10-point lead versus the opposition has been reduced to just 1 point.

James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs at Opinium said:

“Not only do the public feel worse off than they did before the election but concerns that Labour has focused too much on government finances rather than growth have almost wiped out their lead on the economy.”

A ‘reset’ for EU/UK relations

With economic growth at the heart of Labour’s manifesto, improving relations with our former European trading partners was obviously a good place to start. The optics were good, Starmer was welcomed in Brussels, Paris, Dublin and Berlin, and hopes were high for a new, cooperative and mutually rewarding relationship with the European Union.

Except for a few, not inconsiderable problems. Like Brexit – the perpetual elephant in the room. Most especially, Starmer’s incomprehensible and hugely damaging red lines on rejoining the single market, the customs union, or the EU itself. Then there’s the apparent delusional thinking that cherry-picking a few choice membership benefits would be acceptable to the EU, even as Starmer turns down the EU’s offer of a youth mobility scheme.

Starmer’s recent meeting with EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, was much hyped, and not insignificant. However, all that seems to have been achieved is an agreement to meet again next year and a strong reminder of the UK’s existing commitments post-Brexit. As von der Leyen stated, “we should explore the scope for more co-operation while we focus on the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Windsor Framework and the Trade and Co-operation Agreement”.

Will the real Keir Starmer please stand up

The state of the Labour Party before the referendum was a cause of concern for many, whether Labour supporters or not. The leadership of Jeremy Corbyn was particularly worrying to pro-Europeans, but Starmer’s enthusiasm for a second referendum was a bright spark on a dark horizon. As for his arguments in favour of immigration and freedom of movement, they were not only passionate, but compassionate too.

Starmer spoke of the need to make a strong case for migration and for promoting the benefits of mutual freedom of movement. Migrants, he said, must not be scapegoated for political failures such as a lack of jobs or affordable homes.

It was a moving and convincing speech. Watching it again now, it still is, and I believe Starmer meant every word. Which is why I’m left with one question.

Why doesn’t he believe it now?

Bremain in Spain at the National Rejoin March III

Bremain in Spain at the National Rejoin March III

Oct 5, 2024 | Bylines, News

Bremain in Spain members head to London for the third National Rejoin March, bringing the sunshine with us, writes Bremain Treasurer Helen Johnston for Yorkshire Bylines.

After endless days of rain in the UK, on Saturday 28 September the sun shone in London for the third National Rejoin March (NRM), and Bremain in Spain members were there to help remind the new Labour government that Brexit is still a disaster for the UK, and we haven’t gone away.

We joined our fellow marchers in Hyde Park, where crowds of people in blue carrying flags and banners were beginning to assemble. With an estimated 15,000 other marchers (unofficial Met Police liaison team figures) we made our way down Park Lane and Pall Mall, past Tommy Robinson supporters protesting in Trafalgar Square. They were outnumbered by anti-fascist protestors, and many, many times by us – although of course they received more press coverage, as ever!

Our march was peaceful and joyful, as always. Bremain in Spain chair Sue Wilson was among the familiar faces carrying the banner at the front, alongside other speakers including EMUK’s Mike Galsworthy, former Young European of the Year Madeleina Kay and Liz Webster of Save British Farming.

The march paused outside Downing Street for a rousing rendition of Ode to Joy, the EU anthem, and finished in Parliament Square for a rally with music, videos and inspiring speeches.

Inspiring speeches

Green MEP Terry Reintke spoke of the dangers of the rise of the far right and the threat of war from dictators like Putin. “As democracies, we have to work together to defend democracy, to defend a rules-based world. We don’t know what is going to happen in the US in November and that makes it even more important that the European Union and we as European citizens stay a strong voice globally for freedom, for democracy and for human rights.”

Sue Wilson’s speech was warmly received, too. To cheers she announced: “When I first stood on this stage to protest against Brexit in 2017, I said I was a proud European citizen who hoped one day to feel proud to be British once more. I’m not there yet, but I’m closer now than I have been in years, now we’re finally rid of the tainted, toxic Tories.”

Sue spoke about the importance of immigration for the UK, making it the diverse, tolerant country it is today, and providing the backbone to many industries and services. “And it works both ways, or rather it used to… It is thanks to Freedom of Movement that I am a proud immigrant living the dream in Spain, a dream now denied to so many. Brexit didn’t just steal our dreams, it stole our rights, our economic stability and our global standing.”

Sue concluded by calling on the government to go much further than just improving relationships with our European neighbours, if it really wants growth: “We were promised a reset. We were promised change. Well, we’re ready, we’re waiting, and we’re not going anywhere!”

Other speakers included Graham Hughes, host of the popular Politics Social podcast. He was the first person ever to travel to all 193 UN member states without flying. He spoke emotionally about how back then, his red EU British passport was the most powerful in the world, and how it would have allowed him to live, work, love, marry or retire in 27 EU countries. Thanks to Brexit it is worth much less now.

Many of the speakers called on the Labour government to acknowledge the harm done by Brexit and rethink its stance on Europe. Former Labour MEP, Richard Corbett, reminded us that “over 80% of the people in the House of Commons now, voted against Brexit: we’ve got to give them the courage of their own convictions”.

The cost of Brexit

Cecilia Jastrzembska, the president of Young European Movement, said she would like to ask those who still believe Brexit was the right thing for Britain, “If we rejoin today, what Brexit benefit would you miss the most?” Would they miss the benefit of Brexit red tape blocking our artists going on tour? Of trade restrictions suffocating our businesses? Of rising unemployment? The annual £40bn hole in our economy? Or the cost of living/energy/housing/prison crisis seeping into our lives?

Steve Bray also asked: “When Labour talk about this £20 billion black hole that the Tories left us, what about that £40 billion lost every single year, lost tax revenue from leaving the EU?” And Femi Oluwole pointed out that “we know that Brexit is a major drag on our quality of life. All the experts have made that very, very clear to us. And this Government knows that as well. They kind of wrote it into law.

“About a month ago they passed a Fiscal Responsibility Bill which basically means that everything they do has to be judged by the Office of Budgetary Responsibility. So, they can only do things that the [Office for Budgetary Responsibility] says we can afford. Well, the OBR also says that Brexit is costing the economy 4%, an equivalent of £100 billion a year, and £40 billion in tax revenue. So, according to their own laws they have to do everything in their power to essentially undo Brexit.

Media presence

The day was a great opportunity for Bremain in Spain to engage with the Spanish media and raise awareness of how Brexit has affected British citizens with homes in Spain. Sue was quoted in this article in El Mundo, which also features an interview with Bremain in Spain member Trevor Perfect, who flew over from Benidorm to march with us. We were also mentioned in articles in El Correo and by Spanish news agency EFE and I was interviewed by Spanish radio stations RNE and Onda Cero.

After the speeches, we headed to the pub to relax and network with friends and colleagues from the National Rejoin March team, European Movement UK, Grassroots for Europe and the many regional groups who had travelled from all around the UK to be at the march. We all agreed it had been a great success once again, all thanks to Peter Corr and his amazing NRM team, and yes, we will be back!

 

Bremainers Ask …….. Caroline Voaden MP

Bremainers Ask …….. Caroline Voaden MP

Oct 3, 2024 | Bremainers Ask, News

Caroline Voaden is the newly elected Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, having previously served as MEP for S.W. England and Gibraltar and as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. She has also worked as an international correspondent for Reuters news agency and run her own business in Totnes. She was formerly Chair of the national charity Widowed and Young

Ruth Woodhouse : Last year Ed Davey said that people on the doorstep were not talking about Europe. Was this your experience when you were campaigning during the build up to the recent general election?

Yes, largely I would agree that it wasn’t really a key focus for constituents during the campaign. I don’t think people have stopped caring about it, but a combination of a general feeling that reversing the decision to leave the EU is not likely to be possible any time soon, and a tsunami of more pressing, or immediate concerns, put the issue of Europe much further to the back of the queue.

Constituents are struggling with the cost of living; with a complete lack of access to NHS dental care; with long delays getting appointments with GPs or long waits for operations; with overdevelopment and no commensurate increase in roads and infrastructure; with constant reductions in bus routes and bus frequency sometimes making it nearly impossible to get to work in our large, mostly rural constituency; with sewage polluting our rivers and coastline and influencing the tourist trade on which we rely heavily and many more issues that are very directly affecting them and their lives and finances. I would argue that the economic consequences of leaving the EU are also affecting everyone, but the cause and effect is less direct and much harder for people to see. 

It was raised with me by a few people who run businesses and are being stretched by the ridiculous amount of red tape involved in importing and exporting, or who have extra costs now because of the Brexit bureaucracy. 

 

Tracy Rolfe : Do you think that the UK will ultimately regain its EU membership? What is the roadmap and how long would it take?

As part of our manifesto pledges, the Lib Dems have set out a roadmap for fixing our broken relationship with Europe and, longer term, ultimately rejoining the EU, and we will do everything we can to push the Government towards this position. I like to hope that, if the Government is brave enough to have an honest conversation with the public about the economic consequences of leaving the EU, the public will eventually insist that rejoining must be a priority, and the political will to do so will follow. It’s very hard to anticipate how long this might take, but with the Lib Dems so much larger and stronger a voice in Westminster now, it’s perhaps a more achievable long-term goal than it was.

Our roadmap includes rebuilding the relationship; seeking to agree partnerships with EU agencies and programmes such as Erasmus Plus, scientific programmes and cooperation on defence, security and crime; negotiating veterinary and plant health agreements and mutual recognition agreements to deepen the trading relationship; and then seeking to rejoin the Single Market. 

 

Valerie Chaplin : Do you think any political party will be ready to be more vocal about Brexit at the next election, and can you see any party putting rejoin (whether the single market, customs union or EU) at the heart of their next manifesto?

At the moment, no, if I’m honest. There is a deep fear of returning to the incredibly divisive Brexit debate among the electorate and it would take a brave politician to stoke that fire. However, five years is a long time in politics, so who knows where we’ll be when the next election comes around. I think it would have to come from the public though and with every year that passes, the demographic changes, so we may see more pressure being put on politicians to be more vocal about it. 

I think the worst effects of Brexit were hidden by the pandemic which hit just after we left – so people haven’t associated many of the effects with Brexit itself. That might change as the pandemic fades into the past and people begin to see more clearly the effects of Brexit. 

 

Anon : Do you expect Nigel Farage and his far-right counterparts to cause as much disruption in London as they did in Brussels, and what can be done to curb their behaviour in the Commons (assuming they ever show up!)?

Having “worked” with Mr Farage and his counterparts during my time as an MEP, I can only assume that yes, he will do everything he can to cause disruption and division in Westminster. 

But it is important to remember that he is capitalising on, or manipulating, many extremely valid concerns that people have about the state of our economy and their own standard of living. The most effective way of taking the wind out of Mr Farage’s sails is to deliver real positive change for people during this term. The greater the problems people face, the more susceptible they are to efforts to make them blame “other” people for those problems. In reality, it is up to Government, not minority groups and vulnerable other people to fix the economic issues in Britain so that people are not struggling and therefore don’t need scapegoats. 

Farage will be hampered by Parliamentary rules which mean that, as a very small party in Parliament, he won’t get much speaking time in the House. I expect him to use the media as his platform, as he has always done so well. So, his ability to disrupt depends on how much airtime the media give him, as much as what he does in Parliament. 

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/uk-england-flag-european-union-eu-1569512128

Steve Wilson : Having done so well in the General Election, what’s next for the LibDems?

I think our primary focus over the next few years is to be an effective opposition to the Government. The Conservatives are currently mired in their own problems, not least their attempts to find a new leader and their problem with the rise of Reform – and whether they deal with that by further pandering to right-wing factions or by moderating their position. They are largely absent as a voice in Westminster at the moment – certainly a united one – while the Lib Dems are very much present and determined to hold the Government to account. 

There is a possibility that we could become the official opposition if the Conservatives continue to implode, but, as I said above, five years is a long time in politics… so watch this space! We have an extremely talented team with a lot of professional expertise in the ranks now, so I expect us to be a very strong voice in Parliament.

 

David Eldridge : The recent increase in minimum salary requirements has meant I’ve been banished from my country of birth unless I divorce my wife. Do you support the minimum salary requirement for British people to bring in their foreign spouses? If so, at what level should it be?

I am so sorry you are facing such an inhumane choice. I think the increased requirements are extremely damaging and unfair. They will have devastating consequences for many families like yours and will prevent many people – disproportionately those who are not in high-paying jobs – from being able to live with their loved ones. 

Our manifesto included a commitment to replacing the Conservatives’ arbitrary salary threshold with a more flexible merit-based system for work visas, working with employers to address specific needs as part of a long-term workforce strategy. We also committed to reversing the unfair increase to income thresholds for family visas, so that no more families are torn apart. 

We would like to see a comprehensive review of the immigration system, including considering the human rights implications of immigration policy, to ensure it is fair, humane, and fit for purpose, and doesn’t separate families or cause undue hardship.

 

Lisa Burton : Already, we are seeing an improvement in the tone and the frequency of Brexit being discussed in Parliament. Do you think this will lead to a more honest debate about the economic damage, which Labour is still shying away from?

I sincerely hope so. An honest discussion, and an honest and detailed presentation of the facts to the public, is long overdue. We can’t begin to find ways to try and mitigate the economic consequences of leaving the EU until we are prepared to fully identify, acknowledge, and name them. I will work as hard as I can over the coming years to ensure the Government changes its cautious narrative and is honest with the British public about the enormous damage leaving the EU has done our nation, not just economically, but also socially – for many people, and geo-politically. 

NEXT MONTH

Phil Moorhouse is a former STEM teacher who has been interested in politics from a very young age. He brought his political discussions to YouTube when it became clear that Brexit was breaking Parliament’s ability to do anything productive, in late 2018, and has been discussing his take on the key issues ever since. Phil’s YouTube channel, A different bias, is dedicated to discussing the implications of political news, and has 197,000 followers.

If you would like to submit a question to Phil for consideration, please email us no later than Tuesday 8 October.

Gen Z overwhelmingly against Brexit

Gen Z overwhelmingly against Brexit

Sep 16, 2024 | Bylines, News

Prominent politicians may still believe in Brexit unicorns – a clear majority of the public, especially Gen Z, do not, writes Bremain Chair Sue Wilson MBE for Yorkshire Bylines. 

The list of damage caused by Brexit is a long one, and one you are probably overly familiar with. Whether it’s the 4% loss of GDP predicted by the Office of Budget Responsibility, the barriers to trade, or the loss of our freedom of movement, or any number of other Brexit-related issues, the impact on the country and its people has been costly and painful.

The public are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of Brexit, and the most obvious solutions. Our government, on the other hand, seems increasingly intransigent on the subject, despite their promises of ‘change’ and a ‘reset’ of EU relations. In the face of public opinion, especially that of Gen Z – those born in the late 1990s, early 2000s – surely the current government stance is unsustainable.

Latest polling results

In the latest poll by Redfield and Wilton, 56% of the British public would vote to rejoin the EU, including 23% of those that originally voted to leave. When the question is asked of 18-24-year-olds – too young to vote in 2016 – the percentage in favour of rejoining rises to 61%. Hardly surprising when the youth of this country compare their rights, freedoms and opportunities to those enjoyed by their European counterparts.

Although the overall percentage of those wishing to rejoin has fallen by 5% since an earlier pre-election poll, the level of support from younger voters, and the not-so-young, cannot be ignored. Especially now that, for the first time, voters believe another referendum is likely in the next 10 years.

The prime minister may still insist that we are not rejoining the single market, the customs union or the EU, but how long can he cling to that irrational and unpopular position, especially if he wants a second term in office?

Falling popularity

Two different polls this week show approval for the government and the prime minister falling in popularity. The first, from YouGov, shows the government approval rating falling to just one in five people, with disapproval at 55%.

The second – a poll by Ipsos – showed a sharp fall in popularity for Keir Starmer, falling to a 46% unfavourability rating (32% favourable), matching the earliest lowest record, following the Hartlepool by-election. Chancellor Rachel Reeves scored 44% unfavourability with 23% in favour, with Labour as a whole on 45% and 36% respectively.

Whilst support for Starmer and Labour was unchanged amongst Labour supporters, non-Labour supporters were less positive. Those less loyal supporters, that Labour worked so hard to persuade pre-election, may not be so easy to convince next time around.

With only 37% of those polled believing Starmer is likely to win the next general election, and 43% saying he is unlikely to do so, surely someone, somewhere in government should be banging a few heads together and stating the bleeding obvious. Brexit doesn’t work, will never work, and we should be saying so right now. Out loud.

As to the future, 55% said the country was moving in the “wrong direction”. No doubt turning to face Europe, with arms and hearts open wide, would be, should be, perceived as the right direction.

 

Ditching the delusions

The majority of British people now believe that Brexit has been a factor – in many cases a significant one – that has affected the economy, business, trade, the NHS, and even threatens the union of our four countries.

Brexit may not be at the top of the public’s list of concerns – like the cost of living, healthcare, or immigration – but it’s almost impossible to ignore how Brexit has impacted those areas. Unless, of course, you are a staunch, delusional Brexiter, or a wilfully oblivious politician, still ignoring the elephant in the room.

Voters were misled, and they know it. Whether it was the blatant lies about funding for the NHS, that immigration would go down, or that we’d have free, cherry-picked access to the single market. Like many of the Brexiters, the public may not have fully – if at all – understood how the EU operates or what huge, cost-effective benefits membership brought. The Tories may still believe in unicorns. The public does not.

Following the election, we celebrated the demise of the Tories and welcomed the new government with feelings of hope and optimism. We tried to be positive because we needed to be, after 14 years of pain and suffering. But that optimism has turned to doom and gloom, and we’re still waiting for the much-hyped ‘change’. Brexit has already defeated several former prime ministers and a political party. If Starmer sticks to his red lines, he, and his party, could be next.

BREMAINERS ASK – SPECIAL ONLINE WEBINAR

BREMAINERS ASK – SPECIAL ONLINE WEBINAR

Sep 1, 2024 | Bremainers Ask, News

Stella Creasy MP

For the first time in its history, we are delighted to feature our first member of the House of Commons – Labour MP for Walthamstow, and Chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, Stella Creasy.

We had hoped to post Stella’s answers here as usual, but due to circumstances beyond her control Stella has proposed an alternative way forward to ensure that our members questions are answered.

Stella has kindly suggested a special webinar, hosted by our chair, Sue Wilson. The Zoom call (link to be supplied in due course), will take place on Thursday 19 September from 5.00 – 6.00 p.m. BST.

We are most grateful to Stella for making herself available for this very special online Bremainers Ask session and we hope you will join us.

Please register your interest in attending by email by Tuesday 17 September to allow for the administration of this event. Thank you.

Coming next month………Caroline Voaden MP

Caroline is the newly elected LibDem MP for South Devon, having previously served as MEP for S.W. England & Gibraltar and as leader of the LibDems in the European Parliament from 2019 to 2020. She has also worked as an international correspondent and sub-editor for Reuters news agency and as a freelance editor and writer. 

Please email any questions for Caroline to us no later than noon on Saturday 7 September.