Starmer’s shame: are the many Tory u-turns due to fear of being outflanked… by Nicola Sturgeon?
Starmer and Sturgeon: in opposition to Boris Johnson’s Tories, he trails behind her in every way.
Sam Coates makes a good point in his Sky News article:
There is one common denominator which runs through too many of the U-turns to be ignored, and hints at a bigger neuralgia in government: nervousness about being outflanked by Nicola Sturgeon.
The pattern is easy to see. Tuesday’s mask U-turn came after Scotland’s first minister had also announced schools north of the border would require masks at the start of the week.
Ms Sturgeon abandoned the exam algorithm more than a week before Mr Johnson followed suit.
Free school meals were extended for further months by Ms Sturgeon weeks before Tory MPs joined a coalition forcing ministers to change tack in Westminster.
Masks in shops were required by Ms Sturgeon north of the border for less than a month before Mr Johnson copied that too.
Many of these U-turns by Mr Johnson’s government have been reluctant, angry and preceded by repeated denials that they would happen, maddening Tory MPs that defend the government’s initial position but are then left floundering when Number 10 changes its mind.
It seems the fear in Johnson’s camp is that Sturgeon is offering a better alternative to Scotland – independence – than the Tory government is offering to a United Kingdom with Scotland as a part of it.
And Keir Starmer – the leader of the party that is supposed to be the main opposition to Johnson’s Tories – is nowhere to be seen.
Labour has followed Johnson’s lead on these issues, where it has expressed any opinion at all. It certainly hasn’t offered alternatives in the same way as Sturgeon – even in Scotland.
No wonder public opinion of Scottish Labour is at such a low ebb!
This Writer has no doubt that Labour will continue to trail behind the Scottish National Party in its opposition to the Tories, just as long as Keir Starmer remains party leader; his heart simply isn’t in it.
He is an Establishment figure; he supports activities that maintain the status quo.
That’s why he has abandoned the traditionally “Labour” policies of Jeremy Corbyn in favour of “Tory-lite” policies that – at best – water down the worst excesses of Johnson’s Conservatives.
Johnson is the danger but Starmer is the problem.
As long as Starmer is Labour leader, Johnson – or a similarly harmful Conservative – will sit in Downing Street inflicting harm on the rest of us willy-nilly.
Yes, Sturgeon has been able to put a brake on his stupidities. But there is an election due in Scotland next year, when she is likely to win a huge majority in support of her policies – including secession from the United Kingdom.
And what happens if she succeeds, and Scotland wins its independence?
Who will provide checks and balances against Johnson’s excesses then?
It certainly won’t be Keir Starmer.
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Spineless Starmer would not dare speak up against the Tories it would cost the Labour members far too much in damages and everyone knows he’s an easy touch.
He should know being a QC.