In the grand circus of British politics, Keir Starmer has perfected the art of tightrope walking, often leaving spectators wondering which side of the fence he’ll elegantly dismount. Here’s 21 times Mr. Starmer has sat firmly on the fence:
1. Brexit Strategy
Despite the pressure, Starmer has been vague about Labour’s precise approach to Brexit negotiations, emphasizing a “best deal for Britain” without concrete details.
2. Second Referendum
He suggested openness to a second Brexit referendum but stopped short of fully committing as party policy for some time.
3. COVID-19 Lockdowns
Starmer supported lockdown measures but was criticized for not providing clear guidance on Labour’s stance regarding the timing and extent of restrictions.
4. School Closures
On the issue of school closures during the pandemic, he called for “safe” openings without specifying the criteria for safety.
5. Universal Basic Income
Starmer has expressed interest in the concept of Universal Basic Income but has not committed to implementing it as part of Labour’s platform.
6. Nationalization of Utilities
He has flirted with the idea of nationalizing key utilities, yet specifics remain elusive, leaving the policy direction unclear.
7. Climate Change Action
While advocating for strong action on climate change, detailed plans for achieving net-zero emissions have been less forthcoming.
8. Taxation Policies
Starmer has critiqued the government’s tax policies but has been cautious about committing to specific tax changes under Labour.
9. Housing Crisis
Acknowledging the housing crisis, his proposals have often been seen as lacking the ambition needed to address the issue head-on.
10. Public Sector Pay
Calls for fair pay in the public sector have not been matched with clear proposals for how Labour would fund such increases.
11. NHS Funding
While advocating for more NHS funding, detailed plans on the amounts and sources of this funding have been sparse.
12. Immigration Policy
Starmer has spoken about the need for a fair immigration system but has been less clear about the specifics of what changes Labour would make.
13. Police Reform
Amid discussions on police reform, his stance has been to support the police while also calling for improvements, without specifying concrete reform measures.
14. Foreign Policy on China
On China, Starmer has taken a stance that criticizes human rights abuses but remains cautious about economic relations.
15. Russia Sanctions
He has called for tough actions against Russia but has not outlined a clear strategy for dealing with Russian aggression.
16. Social Care Reform
Acknowledging the need for social care reform, specifics on Labour’s approach remain vague.
17. Minimum Wage
Advocates for a higher minimum wage, yet specifics about rates and timelines have been less clear.
18. Education Funding
Calls for increased education funding have not been accompanied by detailed financial plans.
19. Rail Nationalization
While supportive of the concept, the specifics of how rail services would be nationalised under Labour have been left open.
20. Workers’ Rights
Promises to enhance workers’ rights have not always been backed up with specific legislative proposals.
21. Digital Privacy
On digital privacy and surveillance, Starmer has emphasized the importance of security and privacy without clear guidelines on balancing the two.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fred Duval.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.